Record Ridge

We went to Record Ridge to check out the point release (see avy report for description) that we noticed from the Paradise Chair on Red Mountain a couple days before. We were surprised to find descent spring conditions. It was firm on top where there was moderate wind. We skied the low angle SE aspect which was good in the middle of the slope but became soft and mushy near the bottom. Shaded areas remained firm. The steep NE aspect was very firm and looked quite uninviting. It started out sunny with some thin high clouds but became cloudy later in the day.

We noticed this point release from Paradise Chair (Red Mountain) on 21 March but it could have occurred a couple days prior. From the chairlift, you could see that the avalanche had started as a point release (possibly a cornice collapse) from the top of the ridge but we were unable to get eyes on the start zone from the top so we skied down to the large debris pile near the bottom of the slope. Near the bottom, the slide had entrained a large amount of snow after rolling over a steep rocky section. The debris pile at the bottom was frozen.