Name:
Rob
Observation Date:
December 31, 2020
Submitted:
January 1, 2021
Zone or Region:
East Central
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Van Epps/Fortune creek basin
Did you observe any avalanches?
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
6200
Aspect:
W
Comments:
Moving up a ridge into more exposed alpine terrain a wind slab appeared near tree line and became easy to trigger in drifted areas above tree line. It’s unclear if this was isolated to the ridge we were traveling on or if the entire e alpine face had this wind slab. Near tree line there were isolated features with softer slabs.
The wind slab appears to be running on the 12/21 rain layer, which under up to 3’ new snow. The rain layer was present up to 6,200.
Photo:
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, Isolated
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
No
12/21 rain layer present up at least 6,200.
Saw dry loose slides on north aspect >40 deg slopes in the morning.
2-3’ of dense new snow on the 12/21 crust.