Avalanche

Avalanche: Mill D North

GagneSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
12 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
9 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
46 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2499 m

Exiting Powder Park #3 to Mill D North, we came upon this avalanche on a steep slope just above a common descent route from Powder Park. The steep slope terminates abruptly, with a terrain trap below. Avalanches such as this are a great reminder that our current avalanche danger requires that we re-evaluate all slopes and terrain that we usually consider as safe. Fortunately, there were no tracks above or below the slide, so I'm assuming it was a natural avalanche.