Quick report
- Collapsing
- isolated
Considerable sloughs during snowboard descent, which became unmanageable in the narrow feature of the intial descent. Unfortunately we were already committed at this point. Other signs: running water could be heard under the adjacent slope once we stopped. Weather: warm and sunny, with intermittent cloud cover. Summit temps were forecast in the range of 30-35 degF with winds of up to 15 mph. Actual temp seemed warmer and actual wind less. Did not perform snowpack stability tests. Exercised normal / cautious riding. Stability in the incident area was not as strong as hoped, as evidenced by frequent small rider-initiated loose wet sloughs, mostly running for 25-50 feet. Further down-slope, occasional rollerballs and extensive mashed potato snow conditions were present. We did not note any more sloughs below approximately 12,000 ft.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1
- Aspect
- SE
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 13500 ft
Descended small gully just off the summit via snowboard after observing a party of 3 skiers do so successfully 15 mins prior. Initial 100-200 feet were without issue, followed by substantial sloughing of loose wet snow. Managed the slough in the next few hundred feet until becoming entrained in same (6-10" deep, 4-6' wide) and going for a brief tumble. Had been descending with axe, which was lost below snow surface during unplanned endo manouver. Intially attempted to recline and recover axe but found snow rotten underneath with post-holing up to crotch depth in wet corn with large granule size. With limited purchase and concerns about hyper-local snowpack stability, we judged the continued exposure not worth the tool recovery. Descended further without incident. In review, given high solar gain and significant daytime temps, we descended this SE-facing feature too late for conditions.