Avalanche

Avalanche: West Monitor

JjjjDSalt Lake
View on map

Avalanche

Slab Width
18 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
46 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2865 m

Two skiers in the morning. On the approach, several signs of instability were noticed, including crowns of previous avalanches, cracking and whompfing. Lapped upper west monitor sneak and then skied a full lap to the meadows. The first skier skied the last steep pitch right before the meadow without incident. Once the first skier was at an island of safety the second skier descended. Second skier skied the steep pitch, and once they made it to the island of safety skier 1 pointed out that the slope was sliding slowly, turning around just in time to see the debris finish moving and settle.