Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Skinning up to the ridge leading to Pucker Up we found patches of scoured crust with patches of wind transported snow. At the top of Pucker up we found a small small cornice and after clearing the cornice we discussed that we are on the forecasted problem aspect/location, SE below ridge top, and that if something were going to move it was likely going to happen as soon as we enter the slope. Moving on to the slope the snow appeared to have been baked by the sun for a some time and the wind transported snow did not appear to be cohesive/slabby. Sliding forward a little farther the snow cracked and propagated, ~20 ft behind and in front at the the skiers skis, leaving a 5-8 inch crown, sliding on older wind transport/storm snow, leaving a soft slide path. More discussion and digging/stomping led to the decision that the remaining snow was unlikely to slide and very unlikely to step down farther. Bother skiers descended the slide path with no other avalanche related issues.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1
- Aspect
- SE
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 8700 ft
Avalanche broke at feet of skier and propagated ~20' in front of and behind skier. Newly transported snow appeared to slide on the interface of storm snow/older wind transported snow. Crown was 5-8 inches at the highest point. No skier carried. Debris was very shallow.