Aspen

Avalanche

Anonymous · Apr 12, 2019 · Aspen

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Weather

Clearing clouds. 8:30 am. ESE Facing Couloir. 13,000'. 6-8" new snow prior 24 hours.

Snowpack

Consolidated spring snowpack with 6-8" storm slab and 18-20" wind slab.

Avalanche

Wind slab triggered from below around 13,100' by lead boot packer - both skiers carried to runout zone (12,800'). Had just felt signs of wind slab under my boots. Reconsidering when the slab broke ~20' above Skier 1. Skier 2 was another 50' below, and both were carried to the runout zone. Skier 1 deployed an airbag immediately, and neither skier was buried or hurt. Just taken for a "wild ride." Quick moving/collapsing with lots of energy. The debris pile was deep enough to bury a person. Avalanche ran the entire width of the couloir but fractured in the middle of the wind slab. Crown height ~18-20".