Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 30 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Vertical Fall
- 122 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 41 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2987 m
Along with a handful of partially buried old avalanche crown lines, we spotted one much fresher and more substantial debris pile below the steep rocky terrain in Puma Bowl. Since PCMR had not yet started control work in that area, I'd guess that it was a natural avalanche triggered by the wind-transported snow that was forming wind slabs along ridgelines today. It appeared that it had run further, entrained more snow, and had more "oomph" than yesterday's avalanches. By the time we got to where I could take a photo of entire path, clouds had rolled in.
Here's a pic of an avalanche on E facing Scott Hill that probably happened yesterday. Interesting that it started mid slope. Also noticed a handful of other similar partially-refilled paths. All were around or above 9500' and on N and E aspects. Several others also began well below the ridgeline. Maybe it was a sympathetic from the one Mark triggered yesterday a few hundred yards further north? Though the avalanche he posted a photo of yesterday was no longer visible from where we were, while the one in this photo's still discernable, so perhaps this one is a bit more recent?
FORECASTER COMMENTS: No doubt a different avalanche than Mark White reported. It very likely released at a different time. The winds were drifting snow, filling in old crown faces and perhaps overloading new starting zones? Just speculating. Kobernik