Avalanche Investigation

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Avalanche Investigation

Information

Activity
Skiing

Group details

Total in the group?
5
People fully buried?
1
People partly buried with normal breathing?
1
People involved?
2

Terrain details

Terrain shape at trigger point
Convex
Snow depth at trigger point
Variable
Terrain traps
  • Gully or depression

Comments

Accident investigation 2 days after this incident occurred on Feb 17th. The weak layer triggered was a layer of surface hoar buried on January 17th which we have found to be most reactive between 1900-1500m across the bulletin region. It was 55cm deep in our test pit above the fracture line. The avalanche occurred on an east facing slope at 1750m. The avalanche traveled approximately 1km from top to runout with approximately 650m of elevation loss in between. Reports from search and rescue are that one of the two victims caught sustained serious injuries.