Gothic

Quick report

Evidence of wet loose activity in yesterday's warm up. Snow was cold and a MFC was present as we ascended our route. Top 8-10cm of snow was wet on the E/SE slope, with a supportable crust underneath. Triggered a small avalanche on a E/SE slope. This slide triggered a much larger slab release on the same slope, which ran ~2,000 feet. Skied S facing slope which had 2-3 cm of moist snow with a supportive crust. Observed lots of roller balls and wet loose activity on W and E slopes from yesterday 3/24.

Weather

Cloud Cover

clear

Avalanche

Size

D3 R2

Type

SS

Aspect

E

Trigger

AS

Elevation

12260 ft

Skier 1 traveled ski cut across the slope, several very small loose released just off their ski tips with top 8-10cm of wet snow breaking on cold snow below. Skier 2 traveled in the same track as skier 1, about halfway across the slope a wet slab 10' wide broke below Skier 2. Skier 2 was not caught. The small pocket moved downhill and triggered a much larger wet slab. This avalanche was 200'-300' wide with a crown depth from 30-70cm. CBAC notes: After a site investigation on 3/25, changed avalanche type from wet slab to soft slab because the main slab on east to northeast facing terrain was mostly dry. It entrained a significant amount of wet snow as it descended and wrapped to warmer aspects, thus the debris was wet. The initial shallow slab on a southeast aspect was wet. We estimated the debris was large enough to destroy a car, and adjusted the size from D2.5 to D3.