Large persistent slab avalanches

Quick report

Weather

sunny

Ride Type

alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes, sunnySlopes

Stayed Away

convexSlopes, steepSlopes

Riding Quality

good

Snow Conditions

crusty, powder

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSound

Large natural persistent slab avalanches in the Rainy hollow area on NW-aspects at 1500m with spectacular propagation ~750m. And a deep slab lower on a moraine feature at 1100m. Observed cornice fall and other slab avalanches on Northerly aspects. Dug a pit at 1600m on a NW-aspect and found a reactive slab down 45cm that propagated on extended column test ECTP21. It failed on faceted snow below a crust layer. Overall poor structure below this interface with punchy layers and strong over weak layering. At the surface on the northerly was a layer of surface hoar over a firm supportable surface. Big cornices and evidence of recent cornice failure.