Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 30°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 46 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 91 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 25 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Cornice Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3109 m
We approached the summit of False Flagstaff around noon and just happened to see one skier beginning his skin out of days fork. We noticed this skier had triggered some smaller slides on the east face of his run down into Days Fork. He was the only one out there. We ate lunch for a half hour and assessed the situation. Once we saw the skier exit the canyon, we decided to cut a cornice from where he dropped but on the more North facing aspect. With the coast clear, we cut the cornice about 5 ft. wide and 1 ft. thick. This rectangular chuck dropped about 50 ft and then released about a 50 ft. wide section 8"-12" deep. After passing the cliff in the picture it propagated skiers right and another 100 or so feet. The slide maximized about 100 feet after the second portion ripped. It traveled another 200 or so feet down.
Yep, we bailed. Skied back down Toledo bowl. Still rocky under the new snow and the new snow is dense and pretty wind affected, changing consistency all over.
Forecaster Comments: Noted - with our ever popular (read: crowded) backcountry terrain, close calls are becoming more frequent between parties above one another. Situational awareness is key - as demonstrated here - to be aware of who is below prior to slope testing - Hardesty