Bagley Lakes

Sunny day, light winds, some clouds and 6-12" of new snow in the past 48 hours. 22 degrees in the late morning to 28 degrees in the early afternoon. Main concern - wind loading. After group observed signs of wind transport on top of newts chute (north facing) decided to ski alternative north facing run protected from winds. Stable snowpack with minor sluffing on steeper slopes and light fluffy snow. After seeing three skiers ski newts with no signs of instability, group decided to reassess impacts from wind for a second run on newts. One skier traversed west to avoid potential wind loading and experienced varied snow where winds had created a crusted wind slab on upper slopes, lower slopes had soft snow and no wind impact. Second skier followed tracks down the chute on soft snow transitioning to a crust where the skier turned on the west wall of the chute to slow down which triggered a small/medium sized slide on the west flank of the shoot. Cracking/fractures isolated to west flank of chute. Skier cut east and uphill to avoid path. No burials. No other cracking or whoomphing observed that day. Group concluded that the slide was triggered from skier on wind slab on the west flank of the chute and influenced by wind loading observed from signs of wind transport on top of run as well as bellied snow within the shoot. No other signs of instabilities observed in Bagley Lakes that day. Later heard of similar scenario occurring on high elevation, east facing slope on same day.

Bagley Lakes

Quick report

Avalanche