Coquihalla Summit Rec Area - Specific terrain feature found...
Quick reportgareth.wheats · Feb 10, 2025 · Coquihalla
Quick report
- Weather
- cloudy, cold, sunny
- Ride Type
- denseTrees, openTrees, steepSlopes, sunnySlopes
- Stayed Away
- convexSlopes
- Riding Quality
- good
- Snow Conditions
- crusty, powder, windAffected
Two skiers set out for a Zupjock and Iago day. No recent signs of instability observed along the approach. Descent lines were skied one at a time in short sections, staying away from unsupported slopes. Small steep slopes and convexities were tested along the way with no results. Zupjock decent line was managed by staying in more sheltered areas, away from the wind scoured open slopes, using the tree line on skiers left as a handrail. Avalanche forecast for the day was Moderate, Low, Low.
Incident
- Group Size
- 2
- Terrain Trap
- trees
- 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
Convex roll was identified and skiers went far skiers left to descend in the more concave/planar portion of the slope, along the tree line. First skier descended and took a position below with easy access to tree cover. Second skier descended, threading the first set of tracks and initiated the slide on the second turn which was slightly further skiers right than the first descent line. Skier recognized the breaking up of the slab, yelled "SLIDE, SLIDE, SLIDE". First skier cut into the trees and into a safe zone, second skier skied into and behind a tree and held onto branches as debris came and partially buried the seconded skier. Second skier was buried to the waist and self extricated. All equipment was recovered and not damaged, no injuries. Where the slab was initiated, the crown line was approximately 40-50cm thick and propagated out into a wind loaded pocket of 1.5-1.75m deep over some rocks. Approximate slide was 60m across and ran for about 60m. slightly longer than it was wide. Very obvious wind slab, likely slide on the January crust. Skiers debriefed in the trees, descended safely and back to the Iago/Zupjock notch and onwards to Iago.