Avalanche

Avalanche: Emma Ridges

S SimondsSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
6 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
13 cm
Start Zone Aspect
South
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Start Zone Elevation
2896 m

From 8-11am there was light snowfall and no wind. Measured HS270-170 along skin track and dug a few hasty pits. Crust layer was 45cm down and new snow was well bonded. There seemed to be a weakness within the new snow maybe 10cm down that natural soft slabs were failing on as well as skier triggered sloughs. Many steep convex rollover had naturaled sometime during the night in the new snow and skier triggered sloughs abounded including several that I triggered. The weight difference between my partner and I seemed to matter as the snow seemed more responsive to my performance endurance layer. Tried to ID the new snow layer with shovel tilt tests but there were no clean fractures. Messy ECT tests too. Maybe some lake enhancement around noon: the lower canyon was a mess as we exited.