Observation: Public

Observation Details

Observed Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

We had planned to ski Big Trees. We were either the second or third group into the field. When we got to the entrance to the steep trees (below the mushroom) we noticed a very recent natural soft slab avalanche had run and covered the skin track. We knew it had to have been from this morning, as we'd been follow a skin track up to that point, and the skin track was covered. We switched our beacons to search to confirm that no one was buried.

We continued up the standard up track and before reaching the waterfall, we were greeted by a party that was returning via the skin track. They were maybe 5 minutes ahead of us, and had not seen the avalanche covering the skin track. Clearly it had slid in the last 5 minutes. The returning party said they'd observer shooting cracks and were heading back. We decided to continue forward but stay alert for other red flags.

When we got to the sharp left turn at the waterfall, the skin track ended, and so we discussed our plan to continue. I took the lead as I was most familiar with the standard up track. At this point there were 2 other parties we could see below us and below this next open convexity we had to cross. I asked everyone to move out of the way and I determined my path and my escape route if the slope went. As I step out one ski length a dozen cracks shot through the slope like a spider web.

We'd seen enough. So we turned around.

Skinning back down the up track we observer 3 more natural avalanches that had run since we'd passed those locations on the way up.