Orca Avalanche

Quick report

TayC · Dec 11, 2022 · Lizard

Quick report

Weather: sunny, warm
Riding Quality: Amazing
Snow Conditions: powder
Avalanche Conditions: avalancheConditionSound

Whumphing noted on solar aspects.

Weather

Weather observations were on S asp while ascending to top of Orca bowl from Thunder Meadows Cabin. Warmer temps noted during am. Felt quite humid the day before (22/12/10).

Snowpack

Wind affect noted, but hand sheer before dropping in Full profile done on 22/12/10, N Asp at 14:55, 2048 m, and 30 degree slope. ECT and CT performed with hard results. ECTN 25 (rp) down 90 on DFbk 1-2 ECTN 30 (rp) down 95 on Dfbk 1-2 CTH 25 (rp) down 90 on DFbk 1-2

Avalanche

Very large deposit in terrain trap / gully feature at bottom of bowl. Sympathetic release on skiers right. Avalanche remotely triggered from about 100 m away.

Incident

Comment: <p>At 13:20, myself and my two partners were ready to drop into the bowl, heading back to the car after two days at Thunder Meadows Hut. We looked down the line, noticed two convexities that we didn't want to touch. We agreed to ski the planar ramp in between and meet at an island of safety below, before the terrain trap. A quick hand sheer before dropping in confirmed unconsolidated snow on surface. We skied one at a time and re grouped at our designated island of safety. The third skier came down and re grouped, as he finished stopping we heard a massive whumph that thundered across the slope. I looked up and started yelling everyone to move left. I looked back and the third skier was gone, no visual or audible clues. As the avalanche slowed, we turned our transceivers to search and I immediately got a signal 62m away and followed it through a small gully feature. As I moved through the gully I saw snow movement to my right and below me by a group of trees, then a hand popped up. I rushed over and immediately and was able to clear his face free and started digging him out. Only injury was a broken ankle. </p>