Soft slab on the spearhead
Quick reportclinton0313 · Mar 22, 2026 · Spearhead
Quick report
- Weather
- cold, sunny, cloudy
- Ride Type
- steepSlopes, alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes
- Stayed Away
- sunnySlopes
- Riding Quality
- good
- Snow Conditions
- deepPowder, powder
Skinned out to the blackcomb backcountry. The approach up the blackcomb glacier was very icy. Snow was generally good quality over the east col and towards spearhead glacier. Unfortunately ended up triggering a soft slab and one skier was carried a little ways until he rode out of it. Otherwise a good day with good turns.
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 150
- Slab Width
- 5
- Trigger Type
- skier
- Wind Exposure
- leeSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 1.5
- Slab Thickness
- 30
- Trigger Sub Type
- accidental
- Start Zone Aspect
- NE
- Vegetation Cover
- openSlope
- Start Zone Incline
- 40
- Avalanche Character
- looseDry
- Number Of Avalanches
- 1
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2350
- Runout Zone Elevation
- 2200
- Avalanche Observation
- 12hrsAgo
- Weak Layer Crystal Type
- stormSnow
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp
Skied the notch towards spearhead glacier by Cham chutes. Snow was firm and icy at the top of the notch but from the first turn into the chute, the snow became much lower density. Sluff started running and became more of a soft slab that took me out. Pulled airbag and rode out to the side.