Skier Triggered Avalanche - Lake Louise area

A CMSG Ski Guide exam group was on the Pumpkin Traverse today and experience a faster than expected warming of the snowpack resulting in rapid deterioration of conditions. While investigating a slope, the leader experience a large whumph which triggered a size 2/2.5 avalanche approximately 30m away downslope. The avalanche occurred at 2400m on the south ridge of Unity peak. We are uncertain of the size as most of the debris was out of sight, however, upon gaining more elevation, we could see significant debris quite a distance down the gully.

Marc Piché