Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 15 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- West
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3018 m
I triggered this avalanche (6 in deep by 50 feet wide and running 150 feet) at the steep rollover midway down the microwave slope directly under the structure. Dug a pit at a similar aspect and elevation; We did expect the new snow to break about 6in down on what might of been a slight sun crust from earlier in the day: ECTX1 there were several layers within the new snow down almost 2 feet that fractured but did not propagate or propagate cleanly; shovel shear tests did not show much energy in there fracture; stepping off the track did not produce shooting cracks or any slab by cohesion. Above and below the slide path the snow sloughed and slid gently at every turn. However; at the roll over I was surprised by the slide and how connected this soft slab was with shooting cracks and even sympathetically (I believe ) triggering an adjacent pocket on a steep slope. It would not have buried a person, but might of knocked a person off their feet.
Called Alta Dispatch and reported the slide. Debriefed with my partner and we felt good about or choices. Skiing was phenomenal.