Tom George

Quick report

jacob.vos · Feb 23, 2025 · Howson

View on map

Quick report

Weather
cloudy, stormy
Ride Type
convexSlopes, denseTrees, mellowSlopes, openTrees
Riding Quality
amazing
Snow Conditions
powder
Avalanche Conditions
avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSound

Weather

Wind Speed
windSpeedModerate
Blowing Snow
moderate
Sky Condition
overcast
New Snow24 Hours
30
Precipitation Type
snow

Snowpack

Obs Type
summary
Site Elevation
1500
Site Elevation Band
btl, tln
Surface Conditions
newSnow
Whumpfing Observed
1

30cm or so of new snow NTL

Avalanche

Run Length
85
Slab Width
30
Trigger Type
skier
Wind Exposure
crossLoadedSlope
Avalanche Size
2
Slab Thickness
60
Trigger Sub Type
accidental
Start Zone Aspect
SE
Vegetation Cover
sparseTrees
Start Zone Incline
33
Avalanche Character
persistentSlab
Number Of Avalanches
1
Start Zone Elevation
1592
Runout Zone Elevation
1526
Weak Layer Burial Date
2025-01-15
Avalanche Observation
12hrsAgo
Weak Layer Crystal Type
facets, surfaceHoar
Start Zone Elevation Band
tln
Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
2025-02-23T17:15:00.000Z

Avalanche with a 20-60cm crown triggered on the mid-January buried surface hoar/facet interface. Accidentally triggered by the fourth rider on the slope who was caught, carried, and injured after impacting a tree in the runout. Debris reached the first three skiers, one of who was pushed 10m or so and who ejected from skis.

Incident

Group Size
14
Terrain Trap
slopeTransitionOrBench, trees
Group Activity
skiing
Number Injured
1
Number Involved
2
Number Caught Only
1
Number Fully Buried
0
Snow Depth Trigger Point
variable
Terrain Shape Trigger Point
convex
Number Partly Buried Able Breathing
0
Number Partly Buried Impaired Breathing
0

4th skier on slope, a splitboarder, caught, carried, and injured from a tree strike. When the debris settled, the splitboarder was able to sit upright with torso unburied, though feet and board were buried. Another skier lower down was pushed by the toe of the debris and lost skis, which were recovered.