Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 11 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Snowmobiler
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 91 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2591 m
Not a large slide, but one worth noting because it is a good reminder for anybody in the backcountry right now.
Got caught in the "I've ridden on this slope 100 times before" thought process and got a good reminder that even the comfort zones can still come back to haunt you. We'd been seeing signs of collapsing and cracking on NNE aspects, but we were primarily riding low angle, low elevation terrain (8000'-8500'). Had chosen to avoid high elevations, steeper slopes and larger terrain features because of the existing avalanche danger and forecast. Rider triggered slide when turning out of climb. Rider had fallen off sled but not because of the sliding snow. Rider was watching the sled ghost ride down the slope when the finally noticed snow chunks slide around him. He was able to stand in the same place without being pushed down the slope. Partially bury up to about the waste (see attached photo). Did a quick crown profile and noticed that it was primarily wind loaded slab on top of old PWL facets (roughly 1mm) up to about 35-40 cm depth. Could have been a lot worse on a large slope/face of higher conseqeunce. I'd estimate this slide a SS-AM-D1-R1-O
Incident
- Number Caught
- 1
- Number Carried
- 1
- Number Partly Buried
- 1