Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 21 m
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Slab Thickness
- 36 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- Southeast
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2743 m
We noticed two small (D1 to D1.5) natural avalanches on ESE aspect while skiing out Upper Setting Road on Sunday morning. I would estimate the crowns to be 18 inches at their deepest and the maximium extent to be under 100 ft. My impression was that these were pockets of windslab that released naturally between Friday morning and us passing by again on Sunday. We had experienced winds with a notable westerly component (initially SW backing around to NW) for a 12+ hour period from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. I would guess that the release was due either to wind loading during that period or warming on Saturday.
This terrain is analgous in aspect, though lower in elevation (and likely saw less wind) and with a higher angle slope to that of the east side of Castle Peak--pretty appealing ski terrain. I've submitted a separate obs for Castle Peak to document some of the wind effect..