Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 45°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 18 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 122 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 30 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3170 m
This avalanche occurred sometime during the morning of December 24 on a steep northeast-facing, wind-loaded slope. There were two adjacent tracks above the crown, so it is possible the riders intentionally triggered the avalanche. What caught my attention was the 30-35 cm deep slab was not that strong - at most 4F+ hard and just above a faceted layer that was buried on December 13. The persistent weak layer (PWL) is so weak that in some places, the slab has to be just "strong enough" to avalanche.