Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 9 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 46 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Intentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3048 m
I intentionally triggered this cornice and wind loaded slab below the cornice while skinning up the ridgeline. These slides ran on large-grained facets that formed during our last dry spell. The slab collapsed a length of 400ft but only two sections of it were overloaded enough to pull out and run. The evidence showed a well-connected cohesive slab that formed from persistent south winds.
New snow was about 10 inches. The new snow is super-glued to last week’s snow thanks to the wet entrance of the storm then light on top thanks to the wrap around we got after the front passed. Most of last week’s snow melted on the dead south slopes so it was new snow on dirt again on the south side of the compass. Shifting to the east side gave way to a impermeable curst layer under the new snow. The low angle north side skied soft and fast.