Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 12 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Snowboarder
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 30 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3170 m
Dry storm slab Elevation: 10400 Aspect: E Slope angle: 36degrees D2
2 snowboarders dropped E Face of Clayton Peak at 11a Thursday 2/12. Rider #1 took large toe side turn at mid slope releasing the slide. Rider #1 rode perpendicular, away from the slide path to a safe zone, while the avalanche ripped to the basin. Rider #2 inspected the crown, and rode don to safety.
The avalanche failed on the old snow surface interface 30ft above Rider #1 in a shallow rockier section of the face, propagated about 40ft wide, 12inches deep, and ran the entire face to the basin.
This is going to happen more and more throughout this storm cycle. Substantial new snow on a month drought snow surface? Not great Bob. Keep your head on a swivel, and drop your slope angle.