Quick report
While resting at a flat spot around 11,300', we heard a sound behind us and looked up to see an avalanche ripping straight for us. The slide traveled approximately 1,700' after being triggered near the top of Casaval Ridge. After it stopped about 100' from us, we noticed a body in the debris. The individual was injured with multiple ice tool puncture wounds and a severely injured ankle. We called for a heli evac which took about 2.5 hours. Avalanche appeared to be a wind slab which occurred due to recent high NW winds and snow transport from the previous few days. Slope angle at top of avalanche was approximately 40º. While climbing up, we noticed icy wind scoured surfaces, which likely created a weak layer for the wind slab to develop on top of.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- previous
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R2
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- S
- Trigger
- AF
- Elevation
- 13100 ft
Wind slab triggered by a climber on Casaval Ridge which traveled approximately 1,700ft before stopping at a flat area on last moriane.