Remotely triggered slab - Gates Peak area

Another size 1.5 persistent slab avalanche failing on the mid-January surface hoar. This slide was remotely triggered from a distance of about 5 metres on an exposed open glade at about 1750m. Despite the smaller size, I wouldn't want to go for a ride in it as the broken-up slab was wind-pressed, well-settled and could easily wreck a knee. Widespread evidence of loose wet activity to size 1.5 observed on steep solar aspects. In sheltered areas where the slab properties hadn't been enhanced by wind or warming, the riding/skiing was butter. Riding quality in the alpine was affected by a rime surface crust.