Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 40°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 53 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 9 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 91 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Remotely Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3200 m
Partner and I had been poking around on SW facing slopes all day, and finding them to be surprisingly spooky, with facets above a suncrust formed last week (see separate observation for pit profile, etc.). As a result, chose a 30 degree slope for our exit run. First skier skied down to safe spot. Felt a minor collapse at the safe spot, and watched an adjacent, crossloaded, slope (which fed into a gully) slide. Seems to have run on the facets above the suncrust that we had been noting all day. However, when trying to examine the weak layer above the sun crust, couldn't see much more than broken particles with the occasional facet mixed in. Also, although I could not see any surface hoar, the way it triggered remotely was very much like surface hoar. Other west facing slopes on the other side of the gully cracked, but did not slide. Thinking that they did not have enough of a slab, and really needed more of a slab from wind load to slide. Photos below.