Front Range

Avalanche

Avalanche occurred at 1:30PM on a NE aspect below tree line, estimated slope angle 35-40deg. ECT test on similar slope earlier in day broke after 11 whacks from the shoulder with my full arm, 14 inches below the surface of the snow, around 2 feet from the ground. We did a compression test as well, and the snow cracked on the same layer after 5 taps from the elbow. First rider in group stacked against 2 existing tracks on left side of slope (same aspect) with no reactivity. After rider 1 cleared, rider 2 entered the right side of the slope, about 30 feet to the right of the existing tracks. Rider 2 immediately recognized severe instability, and continued to ski cut the slope, intentionally triggering slide. Rider 2 sidestepped down slide path, and once clear, rider 3 cut farther right than slide path, and found no instability.