Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 183 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 46 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2896 m
After skiing a run in West Porter Fork, we skinned into the Western section of Main Porter Fork and went up the ridge. The snow was highly variable and we suspected wind loading could be an issue. From the low point in the ridge, while discussing whether to drop in or backtrack, I barely put the weight of my skis on the slope and we could immediately hear the snow rumbling. A slab about 18" deep and 50 feet wide broke and ran for ~500 to 600 feet. I easily regained the ridge once I felt the snow moving. We backtracked and skied down closer to the pass where Main Porter meets West Porter.