Cabin Bowl

Avalanche

Run Length

200

Slab Width

50

Trigger Type

skier

Avalanche Size

2

Trigger Sub Type

accidental

Start Zone Aspect

N

Vegetation Cover

openSlope

Start Zone Incline

35

Avalanche Character

persistentSlab

Crust Near Weak Layer

1

Number Of Avalanches

1

Start Zone Elevation

1600

Runout Zone Elevation

1500

Avalanche Observation

12to24hrsAgo

Weak Layer Crystal Type

surfaceHoar

Start Zone Elevation Band

tln

Avalanche Occurrence Datetime

2021-02-14T12:45:00

Travelled to Thunder Meadows hut on Saturday the 13th in very cold and windy conditions. Woke up on Sunday to find most terrain heavily wind affected. Decided to descend Cabin bowl to check snow conditions in other areas. Found northerly aspects around treeline to have decent ski conditions. Dug a snowpit and identified the PWL between 35 cm and 60 cm down. Test results were CTH27 and CTH23 on PWL. Proceeded to gain the ridge through dense trees on lookers left of the two photos. First skier ski cut from lookers left to right with no result, and proceeded to ski slope keeping to lookers right. Upon stopping the skier noticed a small point release and communicated this to the two riders at the top. The next rider dropped staying just left of the first tracks and also noted a small point release. The final rider dropped staying near to the existing tracks, and triggered the slab at the location noted on the photo. This was roughly the steepest portion of the slope and slightly convex. Rider was able to stay on feet and exit the slide on the lookers right into the trees. The two riders at the bottom of slope were in a safe zone, away from slide path. The Bad: - Poor ski conditions in most terrain limited what slopes would be enjoyable to ski that day. As a result we entered terrain that had a high probability of having the PWL preserved. - Dug a pit and noted the PWL existed on this slope. We proceeded to ski the slope anyway. - The presence of the layer and knowledge of how reactive it has been for the last week should have been reason enough to steer clear. The Good: - Chose a safe skin approach - Before dropping into the slope discussed re-group location and slope exit strategy. - Skied the slope one at a time. Had radio communication between all parties. - Re-group locations at top and bottom allowed for eyes on riders during entire run. - Although slope was steep, the run out zone was free of terrain traps and high consequence features.

Incident

Group Size

3

Terrain Trap

noTrap

Group Activity

skiing

Number Injured

0

Number Involved

1

Number Caught Only

1

Number Fully Buried

0

Snow Depth Trigger Point

average

Terrain Shape Trigger Point

convex

Number Partly Buried Able Breathing

0