Quick report
Our group planned to ski a southeast-facing upper bowl in the Cutthroat area. Upon reaching the ridge, we traversed just below the ridgeline to limit exposure to cornices. During this traverse, the first skier proceeding one at a time and still on skins, moved along an exposed part of the ridge onto dense wind-affected snow, ~35-40° slope, triggering a D1-1.5 avalanche. * The aspect had consistent sun exposure throughout the day. * Prior to release, observed ~5-10cm of dense, wind-affected snow on the surface, likely from February 8-9 winds. * Below the wind slab, hand pits revealed ~30cm of recent storm snow atop a hard melt-freeze crust. * No whumphing or shooting cracks were noted prior to the avalanche. * We performed numerous isolated jump tests along the ridge. * No other avalanche activity observed in the immediate area. * While we identified wind-affected snow, we underestimated the potential for triggering a persistent slab failure in this area.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 19
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- 2-3
Avalanche
- Size
- D1
- Aspect
- SE
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 7100 ft
* The slab released approximately 2 meters upslope from the skier. * The skier was caught and carried 100-150 meters downslope. * The avalanche released on a persistent weak layer, with crown depth varying from 15-30cm, extending across ~10 meters in width down to the hard crust. * The skier was partially buried but able to self-rescue. No injuries.