Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 40°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 12 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Vertical Fall
- 38 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 36 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2926 m
This is a perfect example of a booby trap (albeit an a-cup one) that can occur in areas of generally low danger. The TGR folks would call it mini-golf.
The slide was triggered by skier A on a mid-slope roll over, who skied off the slab. Skier B, triggered a 12' wide section of hangfire (the cut was sorta intentional, the ride not....) and went for a 35' ride, very minor, he sat on the slow moving slab. Terrain did not allow him to ski off the slab. Skier B looked at the trigger for his airbag pack and decided it was not needed. Skier A watched skier B and thought "don't bother with the airbag".
It is doubtful that this would have occurred if the slope angle had been a few degrees less. Both Skiers had observed similar snow pack structures in the last week or two.
Incident
- Number Caught
- 1
- Number Carried
- 1