Avalanche

Avalanche: Ant Knolls

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Avalanche

Slab Width
24 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Snowmobiler
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
61 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2865 m

The Ant Knolls ridgeline, Ant Eater, Ant Hill, and other E-NE-E steep slopes above 9k' in this zone all had recent avalanches into the old faceted snow. Some could have been naturals from wind loading, but I spoke with a crew of snowmobilers that said they triggered a couple while climbing/sidehilling but weren't caught and carried.

The slide on Ant Eater ran from the top of the ridgeline, wrapped around the knoll from E-N, breaking trees with debris deeper than my 320cm probe, I'd say around size D3. Most of the others were around size D2. The Ant Eater slide could have been remote triggered from below, there were plenty of tracks on the slope.