Cliff fall and size 0.5/1 - Avalanche Crest
IncidentLasse Vinter · Dec 31, 2020 · Glacier
Quick report
- Weather
- cold, cloudy
- Ride Type
- alpineSlopes
- Riding Quality
- amazing
- Snow Conditions
- powder, deepPowder
Great conditions for New Years Eve touring. Ascended on the Avalanche Crest summer trail which was very well covered. Dropped in on the ridge of Avalanche Crest (2156m) and went down slowly skiing to the skiers left towards the first cliff band/steeper part (1880m) ( 51°16'26.91"N, -117°29'10.30"V) Kept staying skiers left near trees toward the tall lonely tree (1761m) ( 51°16'23.52"N, -117°29'19.27"V) and stopped shortly to regroup. Stayed skiers left along the trees towards the next cliff band/steeper part and went a little to the right before stop to access the route down over the cliff band/steeper part. (1560m) ( 51°16'19.50"N, -117°29'34.73"V). The chute and fall line from here looked durable, a little narrow and steep. It was clearly a cliff side with snow on top. My buddy had already skied it down and was waiting at safe stop below. My group continued a little further right around this point, while I was taking some time to consider my line coming down. I started my desending of the cliff chute made a turn and stopped on a pillow of snow that i thought looked supported. I fell over forward made one or two rolls and saw a lot of snow coming down and a big block of snow/ice rolling with me. I initiated my avi bag, and my skies clicked out and then I had a sudden stop on the steep cliff side looking down at the slide area. I managed to see where one of my skies where going for a while and then I lost track of it when it got buried. Used my other ski to climb down the rock/cliff side while my group guided me from below. My stopping on the pillow made all the snow fall from the cliff and thats what initiated my fall and the size 0,5-1 dry loose avalanche. Observations after made it clear that a large rock was now visible and naked from snow. I managed to ski down with my group going further skiers right towards the final cliff band on my one ski. Summery: * Tumble and avalanche (1530m) (51°16'19.16"N, -117°29'36.39"V) *Lost 1 Armada ARV 116 JJ ski (1500m) ( 51°16'18.47"N, -117°29'37.69"V) Next time we will come down far right after the first cliff band as recommended by Park Ranger after accident. Fatmap track: https://fatmap.com/adventureid/4899251/rogers-pass:-day-3-avalanche-crest?fmid=cp
Weather
- Wind Speed
- windSpeedCalm
- Blowing Snow
- none
- Sky Condition
- scatteredClouds
- Precipitation Type
- none
Snowpack
- Obs Type
- summary
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 30
- Slab Width
- 10
- Trigger Type
- skier
- Avalanche Size
- 1
- Trigger Sub Type
- accidental
- Start Zone Aspect
- SW
- Start Zone Incline
- 40
- Avalanche Character
- looseDry
- Number Of Avalanches
- 1
- Start Zone Elevation
- 1530
- Runout Zone Elevation
- 1500
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- tln
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2020-12-31T14:00:00
Incident
- Group Size
- 6
- Terrain Trap
- cliff
- Group Activity
- skiing
- Number Injured
- 0
- Number Involved
- 1
- Number Caught Only
- 1
- Number Fully Buried
- 0
- Snow Depth Trigger Point
- average
- Terrain Shape Trigger Point
- unsupported
- Number Partly Buried Able Breathing
- 0
Stayed skiers left along the trees towards the next cliff band/steeper part and went a little to the right before stop to access the route down over the cliff band/steeper part. (1560m) ( 51°16'19.50"N, -117°29'34.73"V). The chute and fall line from here looked durable, a little narrow and steep. It was clearly a cliff side with snow on top. My buddy had already skied it down and was waiting at safe stop below. My group continued a little further right around this point, while I was taking some time to consider my line coming down. I started my desending of the cliff chute made a turn and stopped on a pillow of snow that i thought looked supported. I fell over forward made one or two rolls and saw a lot of snow coming down and a big block of snow/ice rolling with me. I initiated my avi bag, and my skies clicked out and then I had a sudden stop on the steep cliff side looking down at the slide area. I managed to see where one of my skies where going for a while and then I lost track of it when it got buried. Used my other ski to climb down the rock/cliff side while my group guided me from below. My stopping on the pillow made all the snow fall from the cliff and thats what initiated my fall and the size 0,5-1 dry loose avalanche. Observations after made it clear that a large rock was now visible and naked from snow. I managed to ski down with my group going further skiers right towards the final cliff band on my one ski. Summery: * Tumble and avalanche (1530m) (51°16'19.16"N, -117°29'36.39"V) *Lost 1 Armada ARV 116 JJ ski (1500m) ( 51°16'18.47"N, -117°29'37.69"V) Next time we will come down far right after the first cliff band as recommended by Park Ranger after accident. Fatmap track: https://fatmap.com/adventureid/4899251/rogers-pass:-day-3-avalanche-crest?fmid=cp