Avalanche

Avalanche: Skyline Summit

Steve CoteSkyline
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Quick report

Slope Angle
34°

Avalanche

Slab Width
14 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
15 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
61 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
2926 m

The new snow from this last storm was nuked by the west winds, and wind slabs were cross loaded lower on the slopes. Not enough old snow to connect the slabs and the wind loaded some areas and not other areas depending on aspect. The slabs would drop under the weight of a person.

A ECT on the same aspect with a foot of snow over 4 inches of facets failed at a ECT 2. No other avalanches were observed.

Looks like the cornice may have failed during the wind from the west. This is the only one seen and is the first one to go during this kind of wind loading.