Name:
Forrest Simpson
Observation Date:
January 30, 2021
Submitted:
January 30, 2021
Zone or Region:
West North
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Swift Creek
Did you trigger any avalanches?
Yes
Was it intentional?
No
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
~4600ft
Aspect:
NE
Comments:
My partner and I both triggered soft slabs with wide propagation on adjacent convexities; slope angle between 35 and 40 degrees at the steepest point. We both escaped to a safe zone about 150 ft further downslope and could not observe the crowns, or debris. I believe they both propagated fairly wide, and estimate the depth of the slab to be between 1 and 2 feet deep, down to the 1/24 crust.
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, Isolated
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
No
The number of people touring in Swift Creek made it feel like a mini ski area. Don't let this fool you into letting your guard down! Things are touchy out there, be safe.