Avalanche

Avalanche: Strawberry Environs

Ryan LewisUintas
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Avalanche

Slab Width
38 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Snowmobiler
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
61 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
East
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
2804 m

Two of us on 2 old snowmobiles out for a quick trail ride, warm and very windy. I observed roller balls on the slope cuts from the road. On the road/trail we passed under 2 aspects that I observed wind loading. We approached the largest of the 3 hill cuts, I held back in a safe zone, my buddy crossed on the road below the slope, when he climbed his sled up and over the wind lip on the far side of the slope, it broke. 120' wide, 12"-36" deep. All the debris settled on the flat of the road.