Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 244 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Vertical Fall
- 244 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 107 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3536 m
Avalanche ran on Saturday afternoon or evening due to an increase in southerly winds blowing in the 20-30 mph range more than 24 hours after the last snowfall. Between Wed and Fri the mountains received up to 2' of snow at this elevation with Gold Basin reporting 19". Late January and February were very dry and much of the snowpack began to facet. Snowfall resumed in early March with 12"-16" falling between the 2-13, followed by 18"-24" between 18-20. Moderate to strong southerly winds have been a constant.
Snowpit was not dug at the avalanche site but it illustrates the typical snowpack structure for the period.