Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 40°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 76 m
- Weak Layer
- Density Change
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Vertical Fall
- 61 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 25 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2804 m
Started up Porter Fork road at ~4:30pm and from ~4:45 pm to ~6:00 pm it was snowed heavily, followed by clearing and great views.
Avalanches were failing naturally in steep terrain on a density change within the new snow with the image shown being the largest avalanche that I observed. As others (Simonds) noted, it was difficult to isolate the layer of concern in shovel tilt tests because the soft slab resting on top is not all that cohesive. It appeared to be a 5mm layer of low density stellars ~25 cm below the snow surface at ~6:15 pm. This layer was thick enough that it will likely be a concern at least through tomorrow as the East winds bend back on onto us and do their worst.