Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheAnonymous · Jan 25, 2017 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Location: 40.4707, -106.7506, Elevation: 9498 ft Aspect ENE Low wind out of NW at the time avalanche occurred. Evidence of higher winds during the night was present with wind loading on the E aspects. S1 snow fall while we were out 30+ CM of new low density snow from the storm cycle.
Snowpack
Location: 40.4707, -106.7506, Elevation: 9498 ft ENE Snow pack in this zone was very stable up until Jan. 20th When we had a wide spread surface hoar event with very large feathers that was then buried. Test pits Showed that this layer was very reactive When loaded (ECT5P)
Avalanche
Location: 40.4707, -106.7506, Elevation: 9498 ft ENE Had witnessed skier triggered and natural avalanches in previous days and on the 25th in the same zone. The first member of the other group jumped off of the cliff landed and skied out with no results. The other member of the other party jumped off of the cliff seen in photo with the crown. When he landed the slide was triggered and he was carried for approx. 150 ft. where he was able to self arrest using a tree. The party member who was caught never became fully buried and was able to self extricate and was uninjured. Crown was approx. 40cm and the bed surface was the surface hoar from Jan. 20th I would classify this slide as a D2 R2 Skier triggered, Unintentional release, sliding on buried surface hoar, 1 Skier caught and partially buried. Luckily lessons were learned without consequence during this event.