Sa While Uptracking
Quick reportCraig Hartmetz · Mar 3, 2024 · Kootenay Boundary
Snowpack
- Obs Type
- summary
- Test Fracture
- resistant
- Site Elevation
- 2200
- Test Initiation
- hard
- Foot Penetration
- 60
- Test Failure Depth
- 70
- Site Elevation Band
- alp, tln
- Surface Conditions
- newSnow
- Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
- facets
Resistant planar compression test results and one ECTP down 70 cm at the top of the facet layer.
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 400
- Slab Width
- 200
- Trigger Type
- skier
- Wind Exposure
- crossLoadedSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 2.5
- Slab Thickness
- 50
- Trigger Sub Type
- accidental
- Start Zone Aspect
- NE
- Vegetation Cover
- openSlope
- Start Zone Incline
- 40
- Avalanche Character
- windSlab, persistentSlab
- Crust Near Weak Layer
- 1
- Number Of Avalanches
- 1
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2400
- Weak Layer Burial Date
- 2024-02-03
- Weak Layer Crystal Type
- facets
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2024-03-03T18:30:00.000Z
Crown thickness varied from 30 cm to 1 m with an average of 50 cm. Slope angle predominantly 40 degrees, but the avalanche was initiated from a 27 degree rib (lookers left side) and pulled back onto that lower angle terrain. Depth of the weak layer was notably shallow given the visible wind loading. Perhaps this slope had previously shed during the storm.
Incident
- Terrain Trap
- slopeTransitionOrBench
- Group Activity
- skiing
- Snow Depth Trigger Point
- shallow
- Terrain Shape Trigger Point
- planar
Group was uptracking on 27 degree rib (lookers left side in photographs) separating two steeper slopes. Triggered the avalanche from a shallow location. Avalanche propagated 1 m behind the person breaking trail, and about 50 m upslope. Person caught was able to arrest safely. No injuries or lost equipment. Remainder of untracked was unaffected.