Avalanche

Avalanche: Goal Post

Mark Fels, Stanley EdwardsLogan
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Quick report

Slope Angle
37°

Avalanche

Slab Width
76 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
381 m
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
91 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
West
Start Zone Elevation
2774 m

We remotely triggered a fairly large (hard slab) slide at the ridge above goal post. (9100') The initial slide sympathetically triggered the narrow slide path west of goal post, that slid full length (1200'). The ridge was wind loaded. The slide quite large, and complicated. As debris dropped into the trees, it triggered a few pockets of the surface hoar layer. The crown was large 3-4 feet in places.

Toby Weed: I noticed skin tracks on top of intact slab chunks near the crown on the east flank of the avalanche. It appears as though the triggering party crossed a little ways out onto the slope that later avalanched while ascending....

Although no one got caught in this, we should remember it as a close call since it easily could have caught and killed the two skiers involved......