Quick report
Lots of wind previous 36 hours and presumed windloading in the usual spots. Lots of wind transport in open terrain and areas adjacent. The "Keyhole" entrance north of the Wildflower cliff band is notorious for forming a deep convex winslab. I routinely ski cut this feature before skiing adjacent terrain and have gotten this pillow windslab zone to slide probably 3-4 times in the past 5 years. It's a relatively isolated and manageable hazard. The ski cut today got a pretty big result, the biggest I have seen over the years. I always approach this windslab from above and at its apex/deepest spot. It failed with moderate to heavy bodyweight steps. The slab released and crowned about 1-2 feet above me. Didn't carry me at all. Probably a 24" crown right there at the apex, where I was standing/cutting the slab. The crown fractures propagated north to the convexity (north 25') and about 100' to the south wrapping the base of the cliff band at the top of Wildflower. Snow ran down into the forest, piling up against old growth hemlock trees and about 250' down the slope at its longest point. With the hazard fully mitigated we skied two laps in the immediate area. This location recieves a lot more windloading relative to the popular ski slopes just south of it. We saw no other signs of instability during our tour through areas south of where the avalanche occurred.
Avalanche
Skier-triggered D1 slab avalanche at the "Keyhole" north end of Wildflower glade. Aspect: W Elevation: 7000' Topography: near ridgeline Crown length: 100' Crown depth: 24" max, 8" average