Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 9 m
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Slab Thickness
- 20 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3292 m
A very early start and more cloud cover and cool winds than forecasted allowed us to explore the dry and somewhat wind-affected snow remaining on north aspects (Superior-Cardiac-Mineral) for most of the day. This dry loose snow avalanche (D1) was initiated by a shallow windslab pocket failing on a NNE aspect just below the middle of Cardiac Ridgeline. No reactivity was observed on ridgeline approach, but we were curious if the pockety windslabs involved in Sunday & Monday's avalanches were still active and discussed the possibility and the potential trigger spot. A small windslab released with ski cut of a steep rollover. It was not deep but fast moving, and entrained more dry loose snow that ran to bottom of the subltle gully line / top of apron.
Recent reports and forecasts have anticipated rapid warming and some consolidation of these soft pockety slabs. They're baked in now on many aspects, but it has also been cooler and cloudier than forecasted, and this observation suggests these still persist in the high elevation north facing pockets and should be considered.