Matier

Take a read in the Avalanche section - there were 2 larger slides in the Matier area today. The snow in sheltered areas skis really well but the top 25-30cm of snow on wind-loaded terrain is very touchy. The boulder field to Keith's had decent coverage for skinning in and out.

There are three avalanches in this report, the first we witnessed, the second we talked to the party that caused it, and the third we caused. The first avalanche we witnessed looked to be a large portion of Matier's NW Face. No one seemed to be caught and we suspect this was triggered by a skier entering the line from the ridge, but we can't confirm. The skier who we think triggered the slide was standing next to a small rock wall below the ridge with a crown at their feet. We heard the slide and saw snow fly over the rock wall that sits below the Face. See picture 1 which shows the end of the powder cloud coming over the rock wall and extending maybe 30-40 meters out onto the glacier. The second avalanche is one set off by a party who did a belayed ski cut at the top of Sunset Couloir (N aspect). We met them at the hut and they described a 30cm crown that ran on a soft, windpress surface and may have stepped down near the end of the couloir. See picture 2 and zoom in center frame to see the crown extend the entire couloir. The third worth mentioning was a small size 1 that we got to rip on a NE aspect at 1900m as you ski out the higher route (not past the hut) to the top of the boulder field. The second skier kicked a windlip as she skied by and a 25cm soft slab broke off and ran about 50m. The skier wasn't carried and skied out without issue.