Avalanche

Avalanche: Cutler Ridge

Doug WewerOgden
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Avalanche

Slab Width
21 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
15 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
30 cm
Trigger Detail
Intentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Start Zone Elevation
2347 m

Very strong winds today with even stronger gusts. Lots of fresh wind loading visible on ridgelines and at any slope break/roll over with N or NE aspect. I could hear the upper elevation wind from the trailhead. Steep road cuts and creek banks were sensitive and cracking as low as 6000'. One road cut reloaded and slid again on our way down.

Besides about a half dozen test slopes, I intentionally triggered this one larger slide. It released another small pocket sympathetically. Sorry no photos of slide, my phone died from the cold. Photo below of typical cracking today.