Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 18 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 15 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 18 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Intentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2621 m
This avalanche ran on the January 9th 4" of 4% that faceted over the week of high pressure. John Fitzgerald, friend and colleague and avalanche instructor for AAI (American Avalanche Institute) here intentionally triggering this steep roll between the upper Alexander Basin and the lower.
Surface Hoar was guilty before being proved innocent. It proved innocent with a minute of detective work. John dug down beneath the facets 4" to find the January 8th Surface Hoar clearly still intact. Slab was the overnight snow plus a bit of wind.