Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- Collapsing
- isolated
Shooting cracks, collapsing, and avalanches were observed. Approximately 20" of new low density snow with very little wind affect.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2
- Aspect
- N
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 8800 ft
We were skiing the North facing trees off of Fireplug when we observed the avalanche. We were hugging the ridge on the eastside of the basin when we heard a large boom from avalanche control over at Mt Rose Ski area and this boom set off a D2 slide on the NE side of the ridge. We weren't able to get a great view of the crown but some of the debris appeared to be close to 60cm in depth and had possibly stepped down to a previous layer. After seeing this slide I wanted to check a lower pocket to see if it would be reactive to a ski cut which it was. I was able to trigger another D2 slide that ran for close to 300' and propagated close to 200' wide and over a couple terrain features. This slide was probably closer to 50cm in depth and didn't appear to step down at all. Forecaster comment - This avalanche was remotely triggered by either the reporting party or another party moving through adjacent connected terrain. It is an impossible myth that the sound of a ski area explosive detonated on the other side of the highway could have triggered this avalanche. Triggering by backcountry travelers either coincidently occurred at the same time as the explosive's sound or the sound heard was actually the sound of the weak layer collapsing (called a whumpf) as avalanche initiation was occurring.