Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 53 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Vertical Fall
- 274 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 46 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3261 m
These three avalanches are being recorded as one event that likely occurred during a period of high winds on the night of Jan 22. Dimensions were given for the combined width of slide 1 and 2, and length was given for slides 1 and 3.
As a combined event brought in by wind loading, slides 1 and 2 are likely connected in their starting zones. Slide 2 triggered slide 3 as it ran over the breakover.
Lower portion of slide 1 just above the breakover. The upper release pulled out this lower slab.
Slide 2
Slide 3
Our party passed through this area on the afternoon of January 22 and observed no activity. Wind drifted snow was noted in the vicinity of the lower portion of slide 1. That evening, between 8:00 and 12:00 pm, NW winds bumped up into the 30-35 mph range. I observed the avalanche on the afternoon of January 23. Because winds were light at the time, and I saw no immediate cause for natural activity, I skinned up to investigate. The debris looked like it had been blown over some, but I still conducted a beacon search and ascertained that there were no tracks in.