Mt. Patterson Wind slab

Slab thickness

20cm

Slab width

75m

Run length

75m

Avalanche Character

• Wind slab

Trigger type

Skier

Trigger subtype

Remote

Remote trigger distance

5m

Start zone aspect

• S

Start zone elevation band

• Alpine

Wind exposure

Lee slope

Vegetation cover

Open slope

Remote triggered a size 2 windslab while traversing on a bench above this unsupported, convex feature. Didnt even realize we triggered anything until we got lower! Entire south face was very wind affected. It seems like winds were blowing both uphill from the cauldron area and off the summit ridge in the opposite direction! We also encountered stubborn windslab on the bootpack up into the canyon which we were able to mitigate by ascending on old avy debris nearby. Careful route finding to keep things as mellow as possible.

Coverage in the valley and up into the canyon is amazing. Snow bridges everywhere we needed them, didn't need to take the skis off. There is a key bridge or two though that might not even make it to next weekend! River/creek would be an easy crossing though, if needed. Good spring snow for the 1000m run from the peak to the top of the canyon but unfortunately the vis was terrible. Some clouds blew in which was a shame.