Q Ball NE face

Skier intentional cornice drop in Q Ball NE face. Size 2.5 slab avalanche triggered. Some pin wheeling on steep solar aspect during the brief periods of sun. Snow on polar aspects remained cool. Signs of size 1 to 2 avalanches on polar aspects from previous storm cycle, debris buried by recent snow. No snowpack tests done other than the intentional cornice drop.

We suspected wind loading in the line but wanted to have a look and test the snowpack. Very positive results from cutting 10-12m3 chunk of cornice on loaded steep start zone. It sure cleared the line pretty good! No step down to persistent weak layer despite significant size of the avalanche. 30-60cm crown line depth. We skied the bed surface for the upper part of the line then skied the margin of the slidepath on good snow once the slope was more supported. Good skiing in the lower part of the basin.

Broken skies unsettled wx until early afternoon then increasing cloudiness. Odd snow squalls here and there.