Asulkan Glacier - Sapphire Col approach

Avalanche date/time

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 16:38

Estimated occurrence time of avalanche

From 24 to 48 hours ago

Number of avalanches in this report

2 to 5

The size of avalanche

2

Slab thickness

60cm

Slab width

40m

Run length

100m

Avalanche Character

• Storm slab

Trigger type

Natural

Start zone aspect

• E

Start zone elevation band

• Alpine

Start zone elevation

2,250m

Start zone incline

35°

Runout zone elevation

2,175m

Weak layer burial date

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Weak layer crystal type

• Facets

Vegetation cover

Open slope

Size 2.0 Na noted yesterday on approach to Sapphire Col. Lots of similar (but bigger) slopes left so we skied somewhere else.

Also noted:

- a size 2 Na on a SE aspect of Glacier Crest at approximately 1850m that was likely from sometime between Feb 23 and Feb 24.

- The Dome roll had run full width probably during the storm of Feb 22 . Likely size 3.0-3.5 but could just make out crown (re-loaded with 25 cm's low density HN).

- A size 3.0 - 3.5 from a NW aspect high on Lookout Peak running down into Lookout Bowl, likely from Feb 22 storm.

- Lots of debris in the Rampart Path from numerous storm slabs also initiating during Feb 22 storm.

Sun in AM in Asulkan Valley created a thin crust on East aspects over 30 degrees or so. This affected ski quality on the standard Dome exit down the skiers left side of the Rampart path.