Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 39°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 6 m
- Weak Layer
- Density Change
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 30 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 13 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Intentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3170 m
Travel was up Toledo Bowl to Flagstaff Peak and along Reed and Benson Ridge into Upper Days Fork. Wind damage from recent East wind was apparent the entire way. The snow surface is a mixed bag with everything from a hard supportable 12cm wind slab to a 6cm breakable wind slab to 1cm wind skin to low density settled powder. The areas of greatest concern are where the unusual east wind has loaded normally benign areas with a stubborn but breakable hard slab. With the new snow now covering this booby trap I suspect this combination to cause trouble.
The photo below is of one of these pockets of hard slab near a ridge that didnt fail until I jumped on it from the middle of the slab. It was very small and unconsequential but with more load, or if I wasn't expecting it, could easily have taken me for a ride.
Another small hardslab collapsed near rocky outcrop
Once considered safe south aspects now also have this booby trap hard slab from the east wind. Now covered from this latest 10" storm, all terrain should be approached with caution.