Avalanche

Avalanche: Miller Bowl

Willie KernLogan
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Quick report

Slope Angle
44°

Avalanche

Slab Width
76 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
152 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
38 cm
Trigger Detail
Intentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
North
Start Zone Elevation
2652 m

A couple very experienced backcountry skiers purposely triggered this large avalanche with a well-placed ski cut at the very top of the very steep west entrance chute. The avalanche was intentionally triggered, but it was much bigger and more dangerous than expected...

The avalanche occurred in the very same slide path that killed local skier, Mark Miller in similar early season conditions back in 1989....

The avalanche included the entire western half of the bowl, leaving the larger eastern half still sitting there.

The avalanche ran well into the flats below the bowl, piling debris deeply against the sparse trees in the run-out, and over-running the site of the historic avalanche fatality.....