Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
CB ThomasObservation Date:
March 15, 2022Submitted:
March 15, 2022Zone or Region:
East NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Hairpin Valley N/NE AspectTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6500Aspect:
NEComments:
We triggered multiple soft slab avalanches with crown height approximately 4"-6" on convex rolls or slopes steeper than 30 degrees. They were predictable and small enough that we were not too concerned. But as the day progressed and the snow got deeper, and visibility became worse, we triggered one slide below the cow bell in Pika Bowl that was large enough that it could have buried a skier and the crown was closer to 8"-10".Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
6500Aspect:
NEComments:
Numerous natural slides coming off the north facing bowls and faces with debris reaching down to the top of the trees on the north aspects of the hairpin valley. None of the soft slabs propagated to deeper weak layers but some deposition piles were several feet deep.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Storm day skiing indicated that the new snow that fell overnight and into the day was not bonding to the underlying crusts. The soft slab releases were generally predictable in depth and width. We all had concerns as the snow got deeper and winds increased that this new snow could become a larger problem. Hopefully it settles and bonds to the previous crust surface but I'd recommend caution in the meantime.
Media
