Caution Dec 24 Persistent Weak Layer

Quick report

Todd Mansfield · Dec 29, 2025 · Kokanee

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Avalanche

Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
2025-12-29T20:45:00.000Z

Incident

Group Size
4
Terrain Trap
noTrap
Group Activity
skiing
Number Injured
0
Number Involved
1
Number Caught Only
0
Number Fully Buried
0
Snow Depth Trigger Point
average
Terrain Shape Trigger Point
planar
Number Partly Buried Able Breathing
1
Number Partly Buried Impaired Breathing
0

Second rider on slope got caught and went for a 50m ride. Pulled air bag. Size 1.5 slide stopping before trees.. Debris 0.75m to 1.25m. With a 8 - 10m wide crown, 25cm deep. East to SE aspect at 2200m. We have not seen it propagate further into the connecting slopes. This layer has been cracking from 1800m to 2300m over the last few days. It is an isolated problem on all aspects on the Dec 24th melt freeze crust and is most reactive at the top of the Rain layer which is super variable.. It does however pop and drop on open slopes over 35 degrees when anchors are not present. We are worried about steep Lee slopes where the wind could be loading/ adding significant amount of snow over this layer. We have been experiencing shooting cracks on steep terrain over last 2.5 days however been un able to make this layer react with any pocket bigger then 2m x 2m up until this stage.. We have been sending our stronger skiers first to flush out this layer. Our good buddy Dwreck went for a bit of a ride and pulled his air bag as a precaution which was a very smart move on his part.