Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 274 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 152 m
- Slab Thickness
- 76 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3170 m
Sunset peak avalanche viewed from Catherine's Pass and lake Catherine. Debris ran approx 500ft onto the frozen lake below. We didnt get close to the crown but estimating it to be 3-4ft at most and ran to the ground. I'm guessing the avalanche occurred this morning as the debris was still fresh and no new/transported snow on the bedsurface.
FORECASTER NOTE: This avalanche was originally thought to have released naturally. It was later reported as being skier triggered. It sounds like this avalanche released sympathetically to another avalanche on Rocky Point which is just west of Sunset Peak. See comments below. Kobernik
COMMENTS FROM PARTY WHO TRIGGERED SLIDE:
We skinned up to sunset pass. Skier moved out onto north facing slope. It took only the her weight on the slope to cause around a 1000' propagation across the slope. Crown at largest point was probably 2' in wind loaded areas. Ran to ground everywhere we could see.