Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 37°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 91 m
- Weak Layer
- Depth Hoar
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 305 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 122 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2896 m
My group caught up to another party on the ridge and began talking for a few minutes. As all eight people (two groups) gathered we all heard a big collapse and immediately looked over the ridge line to see the avalanche running. This avalanche packed heat, straining through the trees and racing down the path into a full dust cloud. Likely if you were caught it would be a season ender and perhaps fatal.
This avalanche was unintentionally triggered. Meaning; we were not planning to ski the slope that avalanched, nor were we trying to kick or cut cornices. We were all very aware of the hazard and both groups were there to ski safe low angle terrain.
This avalanche likely ran on old pre-existing faceted snow. I was finding a rain/rime crust or perhaps an old temperature or wind crust in the 8800 feet in elevation and higher range. Underneath this crust harbored very weak faceted grains and I think the crust allowed more snow to connect as a result. Very unstable and scary snow in Mineral Fork.