Observation: Public

Name:

David Fitzgerald

Observation Date:

January 10, 2021

Submitted:

January 11, 2021

Zone or Region:

Olympics

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Klahhane Ridge, Olympic Nat Park

Did you trigger any avalanches?

Yes

Was it intentional?

No

Avalanche Type:

Other

Size:

Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person

Elevation:

5450’

Aspect:

NW

Comments:

School bus sized cornice collapsed. Human triggered from well behind the leading edge. Caught 1 skier who rode debris down 500’ thru small trees. Skier was unharmed and not buried.

Photo:

None reported

Cornice collapse did not trigger any additional avalanche other than soft surface snow.

Skiing with experienced group and radio communication proved very helpful in assessing the situation.

Large cornices on ridge from 80+ mph winds this past week.

Debris Field -note size of remaining cornice blocks after descending 500’