Brazilian Slab

20 cm of new snow overnight and into the morning with wind gusting moderate to strong from the south. 25cm soft slab on SE aspect at treeline on Ruedi's Ridge. Pockets of 4F to 1F windslabs on E and SE aspects at ridgetop. Ski cut half a dozen 15-20 cm thick soft slabs in the upper Brazilian. A loaded and spooky looking slope on the left traverse to the dividing rock rib of the Brazilian did not inspire confidence so we stayed skiers right of the rock rib. Upon reaching the beginning of the more defined skiers right gully, stiffer snow was felt underneath the new snow and a 30 cm thick 1F+ to P hard burried windslab was ski cut. It broke 6-7 m wide, width of the gully, and produced a SZ 2 that ran 150 m to a little more than half fan. The debris was less than a meter deep and approximately 30m wide. While skiing out, a fresh 30-50 cm thick 30 m wide crown was observed in the upper fan of the Pencil Chute east of the Ruedi's Shrine. It seemed to have been triggered naturally by a slough that overloaded a windslab. Of note, the wind peaked at high to extreme from the west during the last 48 hours, crossloading many north facing fans.

SZ 2, 30 cm thick 1F+ to P hard burried windslab ski cutted in the very upper skiers right fan of the Brazilian. Initial fracture was 6-7 m wide (width of the gully) but quickly went to 20 m + wide where the gully opens up into the fan proper. Total run was over 150 m, i.e. passed mid fan. The debris was less than a meter deep and roughly 30 m wide. Another 30-50 cm 30 m fresh slab was observed on the ski out below the Pencil Chute east of the Ruedi's Shrine. Natural trigger from slough overloading the burried windslab suspected.