Apex Avalanches Clarification

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Apex Avalanches Clarification

Information

Avalanche date/time
Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 09:40
Number of avalanches in this report
1
The size of avalanche
3.5
Slab thickness
150cm
Slab width
200m
Run length
1,000m
Avalanche Character
  • Deep persistent slab
Trigger type
Natural
Start zone aspect
  • NE
Start zone elevation band
  • Treeline
Start zone elevation
2,130m
Start zone incline
45°
Runout zone elevation
1,850m
Weak layer burial date
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Weak layer crystal type
  • Depth hoar
Crust near weak layer
Yes
Wind exposure
Lee slope

Comments

There is confusion regarding the location of this avy. It was not in the Powder 8 bowl on Apex Proper. The start zone is below point 2163m on the ridge south of Apex Proper (across the valley south of Powder 8 bowl), sometimes referred to as Ron’s Ridge. The track was down the north facing slopes on a run referred to as One Skin. The Avy cleared out a large amount of mature timber and left 10+ metres of debris at the common skin up point for skiers or congregation point for sleds, and ran for a further 2-300m past that point over another hill and down into a forested meadow. This slope also slid naturally on 23 Dec 2019 at 11 am but only ran 3/4 length on that day. The end of the runout is considerably north of the furthest run in recent memory. Depth hoar on scree in start zone. Wind change to S-SW flow on Friday evening from predominantly NW flow for 4 days, then switch back to NW flow on Saturday. 150 cms of snowfall in previous week.