Avalanche Occurrence

The avalanche was triggered from the adjacent slope that was lower angled.

Observer:

NWAC Forecaster

Occurrence Date:

Jan 30, 2023 2:30 am ()

Location:

Mt St Helens

Comments:

This avalanche was triggered as we moved away from the slope. The slope the skier was traveling on did not release (lower angle) but adjacent terrain did.

# of Avys:

1

Aspect:

S

Start Zone Elev:

4000ft

Size:

D2 / R2

Type:

HS-Hard Slab

Trigger:

AS-Skier
u-Unintentional

Depth:

1.5ft (max: 3.5ft)

Width:

110ft

Start Zone Slope:

40°

Vertical Fall:

72ft

Hard slab debris in this terrain trap gully could have made for a deep buiral.

Deeper sections of the crown. Note the striated layers within the wind slab. This is typical of hard wind slab avalanches.

Large hard slab debris blocks from a human triggered avalanche on Mt St Helens.

Most of the crown was 1/5ft thick, but sections were much deeper, up to p3ft thick.

The crown and debris in the terrain trap gully from a human triggered wind slab avalanche on Mt St Helens Monday 1/30. SSW 4000ft HS-ASu-D2-R2-I

A unal triggered wind slab avalanche on Mt St Helens. SSW 4000ft, HS-ASu-D2-R2-I, 1.5ft thick (max 3ft thick)

Avalanche Occurrence

General Information

Observer:

Occurrence Date:

Location:

Comments:

Avalanche Characteristics

# of Avys:

Aspect:

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Depth:

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Start Zone Slope:

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Media