Observation: Public

Name:

Eddie R

Observation Date:

January 16, 2023

Submitted:

January 16, 2023

Zone or Region:

West South

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Crystal/Boullion Basin

Did you trigger any avalanches?

Yes

Was it intentional?

No

Avalanche Type:

Soft Slab

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

6400'

Aspect:

NW

Comments:

Wind slab. NW aspect. 25cm crown but probably half that depth on average. 30 ft x 30 ft

None reported

Intentionally ski cut the top of the NW run off of Boullion Peak, knowing there was a shallow but firm slab sitting on top of the rain crust from the weekend. We could clearly identify the size of the slab from the ripply/pillowy texture of the slab vs the smooth, soft, loose snow surrounding it from the top. It ran about 100 ft, slowly, and dissipated into the soft snow below.

We skied just about every other aspect of the peak and saw no other signs of wind loading. There was clear wind scouring on the S and SW sides, with very small cornices forming on the NW ridge. Wind was calm at the summit all day. Most W-NE facing snow was soft and not cohesive, 8-12" deep ATL with a supportable crust underneath.

after release, from below and to skiers left