Sled Ski Slides

We sledded into the north side of Bearpaw Ridge for some below treeline powder skiing. Near the ridge top (1300 m BTL) we entered an old wildfire that left an area of sparse trees and alder. While the skiing was amazing avalanche conditions were touchy and we saw 5 size1.5-2 avalanches all in close proximity. These all failed on a layer of large surface hoar buried 45 cm under the last storm. Once we got back to the dense trees the skiing was amazing despite the cold.

We saw 3 natural avalanches, a skier accidental (see incident), and one skier remote ranging from size 1.5 to 2 during our ski day. They all failed on a touchy layer of surface hoar approximately 13 mm long and 45cm deep under a soft slab. All 5 avalanches occured in a in a narrow elevation band around 1250-1300m in an area of sparse trees and alder.