Avalanche: Main Days

There is a steep rollover at the bottom of Main Days. A small, short sweet slope with a wider, less steep slope to skiers left. It looked delectable and I center punched it. Two turns in I saw the cracks form and most of it let loose. It was somewhat similar to a big sluff, but it had a crown and it was a slab. I took a short ride. I tried to ski off to the side and missed the brunt, but I discovered it is difficult to ski to the side when the slope is moving downhill. I ended up mostly covered with snow, but I wouldn't say I was buried. I did lose my prescription sunglasses and was very lucky and grateful to find them.

I did not measure the slope angle so 40 degrees is an estimate. I did not inspect the bed surface, although I am reasonably confident is was the new snow-old snow interface. The 5 turns I made at the bottom of the little avalanche were soft, and creamy. Slabs are difficult to identify.

We had previously skied a NE facing aspect of Upper Days. Skied a WSW aspect of upper days afterwards. Went up a questionable skin track up the Days headwall to exit. Saw no signs of instability and the snow didn't feel slabby to me. Face shots were not abundant but did occur.

As I watched people ski the days headwall, which had more snow, I wondered how different the conditions were on those aspects compared to what slid on me. I think not much. A couple of degrees in steepness and few degrees in aspect. The skiing was fabulous and will be better tomorrow. I think most of us tease the dragon more than we know.