Quick report
I entered the couloir first with a ski cut and triggered the ~D1.5 avalanche mentioned above, without significant fracturing or propagation from above. A second partner entered from above and did not trigger anything. We skied down approximately 5 feet. When our third partner entered the couloir, he triggered a large D2 slab avalanche approximately 5 feet above us. Both of us were caught and carried by the avalanche approximately 100 feet down the couloir. Luckily, we were able to stop ourselves by digging in elbows and skis and finding a small shelf to the left side of the couloir. We were extremely lucky to be unharmed and avoid any traumatic injuries or burials. A large amount of snow propagated and ran the entire length of the couloir. We were able to safely ski the bed surface out to the base. This was an example of ignoring signs of instability and weakness in the snowpack. We had observed the presence of wind slab on multiple other aspects at the top of the ridge line. Although a hand pit did not seem to display significant signs of instability on a similar aspect at the top of the couloir, this is a relatively insensitive test. The ski cut that I made at the top of the couloir that demonstrated reactive snow should have been a sign to turn around. There is a significant terrain trap at the base of the couloir in a small-moderate cliff band that could have provoked significant traumatic injury in less fortunate circumstances. Overall, a significant learning experience for all and a lucky brush with life-threatening danger. As noted above, there was a fairly large ~D1.5 dry loose/shallow slab avalanche that I triggered with a ski cut.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 30
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- 20
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Snowpack
Wind slab was present at the last ~100 feet below ridge lines at many different aspects on Herman mountain, including north, east, and west aspects.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R3
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 6000 ft
I entered the couloir first with a ski cut and triggered the ~D1.5 avalanche mentioned above, without significant fracturing or propagation from above. A second partner entered from above and did not trigger anything. We skied down approximately 5 feet. When our third partner entered the couloir, he triggered a large D2 slab avalanche approximately 5 feet above us. Both of us were caught and carried by the avalanche approximately 100 feet down the couloir. Luckily, we were able to stop ourselves by digging in elbows and skis and finding a small shelf to the left side of the couloir. We were extremely lucky to be unharmed and avoid any traumatic injuries or burials. A large amount of snow propagated and ran the entire length of the couloir. We were able to safely ski the bed surface out to the base.