Repeater Persistent Slab
Quick reportmlentz95 · Dec 30, 2024 · North Columbia
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 5
- Trigger Type
- skier
- Wind Exposure
- windwardSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 1
- Trigger Sub Type
- accidental
- Start Zone Aspect
- W
- Vegetation Cover
- openSlope
- Avalanche Character
- persistentSlab
- Number Of Avalanches
- 1
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2260
- Weak Layer Burial Date
- 2024-12-06
- Avalanche Observation
- 12to24hrsAgo
- Weak Layer Crystal Type
- facets
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2024-12-30T22:00:00.000Z
Skier transitioned from supportive wind board onto loose unconsolidated surface snow with hollow feeling snow beneath. Skier triggered a slab in thin unconsolidated snow. The slab broke up on slope immediately, running very fast as a flow of facets. The slab released above the point of trigger, near change in snow stiffness. Slab depth gives indicate that it likely failed on Dec. 6th Persistent layer. Overall snowpack depth on slope was highly variable at crown was about 60-70cm.
Incident
- Terrain Trap
- trees, cliff
- Group Activity
- skiing
- Snow Depth Trigger Point
- shallow
- Terrain Shape Trigger Point
- convex
3rd skier on slope triggered Sz 1 avalanche mid slope in shallow and variable snowpack area. Was caught and carried through gully/cliff feature. Was able to stand up in flow and exit unharmed before avalanche stopped. Consequential terrain to be carried through, with fortunately no injury. Details of avalanche in Avalanche tab, suspect persistent slab failure.