Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Russell CunninghamObservation Date:
January 20, 2023Submitted:
January 22, 2023Zone or Region:
West NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Video Mountain, Ptarmigan Ridge.Triggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
4,800 ftAspect:
NComments:
One of our party members accidentally triggered a sizable avalanche in the Mt Baker backcountry. He made a turn on a steep rollover, when the slope fractured 80-100 feet wide, and about 12” deep. It also triggered a sympathetic soft slab release about 75 feet below him. He was able to turn out of it and gain a small ridge line for safety. As the slide traveled it continued to trigger additional slab releases and gained more power and velocity as it did. We estimated it to be a D1.5 to D2 sized slide. Nobody was caught or hurt.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
One of our party members accidentally triggered a sizable avalanche in the Mt Baker backcountry. He made a turn on a steep rollover, when the slope fractured 80-100 feet wide, and about 12” deep. It also triggered a sympathetic soft slab release about 75 feet below him. He was able to turn out of it and gain a small ridge line for safety. As the slide traveled it continued to trigger additional slab releases and gained more power and velocity as it did. We estimated it to be a D1.5 to D2 sized slide. Nobody was caught or hurt.
Media
