Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheAnonymous · Mar 29, 2020 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
East aspect at 10,820ft; time was about 11am; wind appeared to be SSW with gusts about 25-30mph up top; it was evident from shortly after we left the TH until we reached the top (about 2 hours, we could tell by how fast the clouds were moving over the peak); temperature was probably mid-twenties; partly-cloudy with intermittent sunshine
Snowpack
It snowed about 3 inches at 8,700 feet (the TH) from sometime early in the morning until it stopped around 8:15am; obvious cornice development on the leeward slope (east slope); quick hand pit on the ridge to gain the summit (aprox. 10,650 ft) revealed wind loading on the leeward slope
Avalanche
Average slope angle in starting zone was about 35 degrees; East aspect; Height of crown was probably about 4 inches; skier triggered; ran about 1,050 ft; R2-D1; Loose-wet avalanche; width was about 30-40 feet The first skier skied the slope and did not trigger any activity; the second skier went just right of skier one and triggered minor sluffing that was slow moving and only about 4-6ft wide. Unknown how long it ran, but it appeared to stop before skier three dropped in. Skier three cut about 20 feet left of skier one and did not hear/see any activity. Skier three began skiing and only after stopping in a safe zone did he notice the slide that he triggered.