Skier accidental avalanche on Quartz Hill, Banff NP

Date/heure de l'avalanche

samedi 8 février 2025 à 22 h 00

Estimation de l'heure d’occurrence de l’avalanche

> 12 à 24 heures

Nombre d'avalanches dans ce rapport

1

Taille de l’avalanche

2

Épaisseur de la plaque

50cm

Largeur de la plaque

35m

Longueur d'écoulement de l'avalanche

120m

Caractère de l'avalanche

• Plaque persistante

Type d'élément déclencheur

Skieur

Sous-type d'élément déclencheur

Accidentel

Versant de la zone de départ

• NE

Bande d'altitude de la zone de départ

• Alpin

Altitude de la zone de départ

2 530m

Inclinaison de la zone de départ

43°

Type de cristaux de la couche fragile

• Grains à faces planes

Exposition au vent

Pente sous le vent

Avalanche occurred on February 8, 2025. Reported that the first person was still on the slope as the second person started down. Unsure where the slope was triggered from. At least one person rode to the bottom of the debris but stayed on the surface. No injuries and the group was able to ski out on their own.

The avalanche appeared to involve a steep 48° roll at the top that was mostly faceted and failed as a sluff/soft slab down to a deep layer of facets. The main slab failed lower on the slope at an angle of 43°. The slab was made up of 20 cm of recent soft snow over a 30 cm hard slab with a very weak layer of persistent facets 50 cm below the surface. Unsure of the date of the buried weak facet layer. HS was 170 cm at the fracture line.

If possible, please report any avalanches near ski areas to the local ski patrol so that they know what happened and whether or not anyone needs assistance.