Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 45°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 46 m
- Weak Layer
- Ground Interface
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Vertical Fall
- 213 m
- Avalanche Type
- Wet Loose
- Slab Thickness
- 91 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Cornice Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Southeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Wet Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3353 m
Came across this pile up while headed around to Reid's. It appears that a small amount of fresh snow covering SE facing rocks at about 11,800' released (cornice fall from above?) which then rapidly entrained a large amount of snow before flushing down the prominent couloir on the lower SE of Bald Mt. This freight train cleaned out most of the snow in the couloir leaving a lot of exposed dirt and rock before creating a fan a couple hundred feet high and wide, and 1'-3' deep. Definitely a party ended had one been in its way.
Having seen this movie before I give exposed rock a wide berth where it is on the sunny side of the compass and covered with new snow. In this case there was 6"-10" of fresh and while the N facing slopes held together beautifully, S was a different story with a heavy and wet feel that was sliding fast on the hard surface below.