Quick report
Objective for the day was to check out the snow conditions at Marias pass. High winds and low snow rerouted us to Elk mountain. Temps at the car were 43 at 9am. Approach on the summer trail was breezy but not ripping until the ridge. We did not ski the east side of elk because of ample evidence of wind loading. Around 1:00pm on a SSW aspect of elk mountain in southern gnp around 7000 ft we began descending on creamy hot pow (big pinwheels and roller balls) that was not being cooled by the wind. Snowboarder was riding fall line and then they rode toward skiers right side of likely a cross-loaded gully and triggered a wind slab. Rider saw/felt the snow releasing, partner watching yelled avalanche and rider traversed hard skiers left and was not caught or carried. D2 probably 100ft wide and 500 ft long. Crown depth was variable from 8-10in on the shallow side to 20-24 inches at its height. Convexity over a ridge, exposed rock and shallow snow (snow depth was very inconsistent the whole tour) characterized the fracture site and probably the steepest part of the gully.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 43 without wind, probably below freezing with wind
- Cloud Cover
- few
Warm, windy
Snowpack
-Wind loaded -Late spring-like conditions on solar aspects protected from wind -Variable snow depths throughout
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R2
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- S
- Trigger
- AR
- Elevation
- 7000 ft
Triggered on convexity on slopes cross-loaded by 12/18 storm. Rider escaped to skiers left slope.