Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 39°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 12 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 91 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 61 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3109 m
I unintentionally triggered a Persistent Slab avalanche on a steep north-facing slope. While descending a ridge between 2 chutes, I broke through the snow and punched my ski tips down into the layer of loose facets. This caused me to fall and instantly trigger the slab. I estimate the slab broke 2' deep and 40' wide. I was carried roughly 350' down the slope. I deployed my airbag and was on the surface when the debris came to rest. This avalanche occurred far down off the ridge in a part of the slope that is fairly sheltered from the wind and sun.
I'm still thinking through the incident and lessons to share but 2 critical errors that stand out to me are:
1. I thought that I could manage the terrain to avoid the avalanche problem.
2. I thought that the most likely place to trigger the avalanche would be high up on the slope and close to the ridge in one of the primary start zones.
Incident
- Number Caught
- 1
- Number Carried
- 1
- Number Partly Buried
- 1