Complacency

Avalanche date/time

Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 19:15

Estimated occurrence time of avalanche

Less than 12 hours ago

Number of avalanches in this report

2 to 5

The size of avalanche

2

Slab width

200m

Run length

500m

Avalanche Character

• Deep persistent slab

Trigger type

Skier

Trigger subtype

Accidental

Start zone aspect

• NW

Start zone elevation band

• Alpine

Start zone elevation

2,400m

Start zone incline

35°

Runout zone elevation

2,200m

Weak layer crystal type

• Facets

Vegetation cover

Open slope

Ventured out with some complacency into an exposed area. Freezing levels were forecasted to be around 2000m but a lot of cloud cover so we felt solar input would be minimal. Around 1pm things went blue and the heat from the sun was noticeable. We we were around 2200m at this point and although the snow was still dry it was feeling slightly more dense. Depth of snow was also ranging from 60cm-130cm (thick to thin). A few more steps into the thinner snow produced a large settlement. A few seconds later a second settlement followed that produced a fracture line 50m above us. The avalanche was slow allowing both of us to ski into safe zones with only one being partially buried.

2 additional size 1 avalanches were sympathetically released above.

The deep persistent layer has been quiet recently, and the skies have been sunny. Spring is in the air! We also had some friends ski this objective a few weeks ago(granted temps were much cooler then) All of which lead us to feel more confidant in the snow pack….human factors!

We hope this info keeps you from making the same mistakes we did. #keepthevibehigh