Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
On the approach to little slide canyon a the debris from a large slide was observed. This slide originated from the south facing slopes in Robinson Creek. The debris field from this slide was large and there were signs of many broken trees. The time and trigger of this slide were unknown. Upon entering little slide canyon there were obvious signs of wind transport. On the approach to the Couloir travel was easy but windy on dense wind effected snow, but there were no signs of cracking or instability in the snowpack. Irie chute on Kettle Peak was avoided as an objective to avoid the upper wind exposed slopes and had hoped the Jah Bless couloir was more protected from the wind. The party transitioned from touring to boot packing at the start of the couloir. The winds with the couloir were aggressive and swirling. The beginning of the bootpack was easier in hard windboard snow, but the Conditions quickly transitioned to dense deep snow. As the party climbed travel become slow and difficult as the slope steepened and snow depths increased. Isolated thin hard windslabs were began to be observed, an inch in thickness, but were not receive while climbing. The climbing became too difficult and the party had made the decision to transition to ski the couloir. Skier 1 went to climb 10-feet higher to a slightly less steep location when the slide was triggered. Skier 1 self arrested after sliding 15, but was not able to locate skier 2 after the slide. Skier 1 quickly transitioned and began to descend to initiate a rescue. Meanwhile skier 2 had come to a stop 800 feet below skier 1 and began to initiate a rescue since they could not locate skier 1. After skier 1 descended approximately 200-300 feet they were able to see skier 2. Skier one descended to skier 2 and the two departed back to the trailhead. Neither skier was injured, but skier 2 lost a pole.
Avalanche
On April 1st, a R1D1 slide was triggered by a party of two skiers. The slide was triggered in the east facing Jah Bless Couloir at approximately 10,600 feet. The slide was triggered by skier 1 in an isolated wind slab that was between 6-inches and 1-foot thick. Skier 1 was able to self arrest after sliding 15 feet, however, skier 2 was below skier 1 when then slide broke and was caught and carried approximately 800 feet before self arresting. There were no injuries.