Quick report
Weather: mid/high 20s and overcast. Warmer wind felt above treeline. No precip but recent snow of approximately 1' recently. No signs of instability, especially in lower aspects below and near treeline. The region consistently had a crust layer 1.5' below the surface. We traveled with awareness of the avalanche forecast, which (accurately) warned of likely wind effect and PWL slides above treeline. Above treeline we took care to avoid wind effected areas and spaced widely apart, with the exception of the triggering event. Impression of stability was fine, especially near and below the treeline. Snow as dry and unconsolidated.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1.5
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 5700 ft
Location: Diamond Head Mountain, Blewett Pass, 5700 ft, East facing aspect Time: 12:30pm, 1/20/2023 Ski Triggered, no burials or captured. D2, ~50' width with 1-2' crown, funneled into a chute. My party observed two skier triggered avalanches, our group triggering D1 and a 2nd party triggering a larger D2 in the same area 5min later. The chute in which the slide occurred had distinct features; steeper, above treeline, with prominent rock features which collect wind transported snow. In our ascent we noticed the snow was dryer and unconsolidated but generally stable. We noted and avoided the wind effected areas. Prior to our descent a party of two skied the chute without incident. The 3rd skier in our group ventured too close to the wind effected area and triggered the first slide but avoided capture. Our party continued skiing, with a group of 3 snowboarders behind us. We didn't observe their descent through the chute or speak to them, but upon climbing back up we saw the results of the 2nd slide. It appears they triggered a second, larger slide D2 in the same chute.