Decker meadows Sa

Avalanche date/time

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 15:30

Number of avalanches in this report

1

The size of avalanche

1.5

Slab thickness

30cm

Slab width

100m

Run length

300m

Avalanche Character

• Persistent slab

Trigger type

Skier

Trigger subtype

Remote

Remote trigger distance

100m

Start zone aspect

• SW

Start zone elevation band

• Treeline

Start zone elevation

1,900m

Start zone incline

30°

Runout zone elevation

1,650m

Weak layer crystal type

• Facets

Crust near weak layer

Yes

Wind exposure

No wind exposure

Vegetation cover

Sparse trees or gladed slope

Remote triggered Sa while skimming up hill from decker meadows up to lower disease ridge. Loudest crack and whoomf I’ve ever heard. Triggered 100m above and 30m past me. Low angle supported slope.

Crown was up to 60cm through variable thicknesses. 40cm thick blocks 4’x4’ in size ran to near bottom of slope. I managed to jump on to the top of snow pack and ride it without burial. I was pushed for 100m at very slow speed. Unfortunately my pics do not show the crown.

Snow pack from top down

10cm of wet sun affected snow

On top of 5cm crust

On top of facets

On top of 40cm solid surface slab knife density on top of facets

on top of crust.

It was the facets under the 40cm slab that collapsed. No actual collapse feeling, no cracks. Just a loud whoomf and quick remote propagation