Cornice Failure - Dogtooth Range

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Cornice Failure - Dogtooth Range

Information

Avalanche date/time
Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11:30
Number of avalanches in this report
1
The size of avalanche
2
Avalanche Character
  • Cornice only
Trigger type
Skier
Trigger subtype
Accidental
Start zone aspect
  • NE
Start zone elevation band
  • Alpine
Start zone elevation
2,500m

Comments

Tried to access the Wisdom Tooth via ridge walking from the back of the Ozone. Noticeably thin, faceted snow pack while bootpacking (expected). Triggered a large (school bus sized) piece of cornice which initiated while sidestepping past a small tree (see photo. Ski track closer to edge of failed cornice was us taking a look afterwards). The cornice pull back to the rocky ridge line was alarming. We tucked tail and turned around knowing that we would have to manage similar hazards the rest of the way to the tooth. Debris from the cornice made it down to the flats of the bowl entraining snow from the steep rocks below.