Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 9 m
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 20 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- South
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3109 m
As a party of two, we ascended West Butler Fork to Baker Pass with plans to ski White Snake. We left the Butler Fork parking area at 6 am, reaching Baker Pass at 8 am. On the approach, we noted that there had been several natural avalanches off of Mt Raymond.
While ascending the ridge from Baker Pass to the top of White Snake, we encountered a number of very reactive wind slabs starting at 10,000 feet. These slabs became apparent to us while ascending the leeward side of the ridge, where winds from the north/northwest had been depositing (and were continuing to deposit) snow. Slabs were of variable depth, ranging from just a few inches to several feet -- all slabs showed cracking underfoot and we triggered several very small slides (roughly 20 feet wide and 10 feet long) while skinning the steeper sections of wind-deposited snow. Most slabs broke underfoot, but one broke 15 feet above me. The ridgeline we were ascending was not steep or long enough to slide substantially, but it was obvious to us that it would be unwise to ski our intended route: the wind-deposited snow right underneath the corniced ridge was of uncertain depth and certain to trigger. We discussed our options, moved to the windward side of the ridge, and continued onward.
We gained the high point at 10,200 feet and discussed how to safely descend. Visibility was very good and we could see that there were no parties beneath us (though we did spot another party on the SW ridge above Baker Pass). We opted to travel down the SE ridge (the ridge which straddles White Snake & Norwegian Corner), with a plan to distance ourselves from the wind-deposited snow at the top of White Snake. If we were uncomfortable with observed conditions, we would either ski the ridge out or put skins on and retrace our approach. As we descended high on the ridge, we triggered two avalanches. Each was about 30 feet wide and ran for a couple hundred feet. Each slide started at a depth of around 8 inches, breaking on wind slabs, and continuing onward (slowly!) on the storm snow. We paused to discuss options. We identified a safe traversing path over to the middle of one of the slides we had triggered, and descended the slide path itself one by one. We descended Mill A Gulch, reaching the road at 10 am.
All in all, it was a fantastic tour, and we were largely happy with the decisions that we made. We were not surprised to find wind slabs, but a bit taken aback by just how reactive the snow was. We ultimately were able to ski 80% of our intended line and avoided being underneath any substantial wind slabs. Photos:
- 1. Cracking underfoot at 10,000 feet once we started skinning the ridge
- 2. Bottom of a small slab that broke above the skinner
- 3. Crown of the same small slab that broke above the skinner
- 4. First avalanche, triggered while descending the SE ridge
- 5. Second avalanche in foregrond with first avalanche behind
- 6. Our descent (skiing the slide path of the first avalanche)