Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 46 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 46 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Remotely Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2926 m
Our level 2 course was touring along the West Willow ridge line when we remotely triggered two avalanches. There was loud whumpfing and shooting cracks as the weak layer collapsed. The crack propagated about 500 feet along the ridge line. The photo shows the most visible one, and lookers left of it, on the other side of the trees is the other slide.
D2-R3, 38 degree slope, slab around 18 inches thick, failed at the facet layer. Would have been an ugly ride as the snow piled up at the trees.
Our pit nearby showed a 55cm slab on 2-3mm facets. Hardness was fist on top, then to about 4 or 1 finger hardness, and fist hardness in the facet layer.
extra photo from 'Tom'