Large snowmobile trigger avalanche - Cabin Valley

Avalanche date/time

Friday, March 6, 2020 at 11:30

Number of avalanches in this report

1

The size of avalanche

2.5

Slab width

300m

Run length

350m

Avalanche Character

• Persistent slab

Trigger type

Snowmobile

Trigger subtype

Accidental

Start zone aspect

• NE

Start zone elevation band

• Treeline

Start zone elevation

2,200m

Weak layer burial date

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Weak layer crystal type

• Surface hoar

Wind exposure

Lee slope

Vegetation cover

Open slope

Parks Canada responded to an InReach report of 2 people buried in an avalanche just outside of the Quartz creek snowmobile area (inside the National Park). The party had self rescued before the responding team arrived on scene. This was a large avalanche, and the debris ran through bands of trees in several locations. We are glad that everyone involved was lucky enough to walk away uninjured.

The avalanche details in this report are based on information collected as part of the response and observations made from the air. The time and cause of the avalanche, number of people involved, and weak layer crystal type were not confirmed.