Quick report
While ascending a small slope in order to practice self arrest skills, a single climber (ski touring but not wearing skis at this point) was moving up a small slope deemed by our traveling group to be a good but hastily-selected practice site. After less than 50’ of climbing, climber triggered a slope-wide avalanche which propagated across entire face of slope (approx 150’ wide crown, ranging from 3-8” in depth). Slope broke at top (approx 75’ above climber). Climber was not caught or carried as the moving debris did not slide with great force and barely reached flat snowmachine trail at base of slope. This appears to have been a wind slab avalanche. The bed surface was very firm (crampon snow with minimal boot pen). Slope angle: 34 deg Aspect: E Elevation: 2,950 ft Crown depth: 3-8” Runout: ~80’ Weather: 20 degrees F at TH, windy (gusting to 25-35 mph), overcast with clearing trend by 1600. This was a good learning moment for our team, as we were not actively skiing at this time and weren’t in mental “avalanche mode”. We were grateful this was not a larger slide or on more consequential terrain.