Hanging Lake Area - Spectrum Peak - WSAR response
IncidentWSAR · Feb 7, 2022 · Brandywine
Quick report
- Weather
- sunny
- Snow Conditions
- windAffected
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionSlab, avalancheConditionSound
WSAR response to assist snowshoe party. Complete details noted under incident tab.
Weather
- Avg Temp
- 3
- Max Temp
- 4
- Min Temp
- -3
- Wind Speed
- windSpeedLight
- Blowing Snow
- none
- Sky Condition
- scatteredClouds
- Wind Direction
- SW
- New Snow24 Hours
- 0
- Storm Start Date
- 2022-02-04
- Storm Snow Amount
- 12
- Temperature Trend
- rising
- Precipitation Type
- none
- Precipitation24 Hours
- 0
Snowpack
- Obs Type
- point
- Site Aspect
- NE
- Site Elevation
- 1800
- Site Elevation Band
- tln
Limited observations due to late day response.
Avalanche
- Wind Exposure
- crossLoadedSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 1.5
- Trigger Sub Type
- remote
- Start Zone Aspect
- NE
- Trigger Distance
- 10
- Vegetation Cover
- sparseTrees
- Start Zone Incline
- 0
- Avalanche Character
- windSlab, persistentSlab
- Crust Near Weak Layer
- 1
- Number Of Avalanches
- 2-5
- Start Zone Elevation
- 1800
- Runout Zone Elevation
- 1600
- Weak Layer Burial Date
- 2022-01-15
- Avalanche Observation
- 12hrsAgo
- Weak Layer Crystal Type
- facets
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- tln
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2022-02-06T23:00:00.000Z
No fracture line profile conducted, limited observations due to helicopter grounding requirements. Suspect 220115 MFCR/FC as failure plane. Suspect remote trigger on snowshoe down track which triggered small pocket and subsequently sympathetically released a size 1.5 40-60m to the south at similar elevation band. Estimate the deposit depth at 2m+ based on the terrain trap feature.
Incident
- Group Size
- 6
- Terrain Trap
- gullyDepression
- Group Activity
- snowshoeing
- Number Injured
- 0
- Number Involved
- 0
- Number Caught Only
- 0
- Number Fully Buried
- 0
- Snow Depth Trigger Point
- shallow
- Terrain Shape Trigger Point
- convex
- Number Partly Buried Able Breathing
- 0
- Number Partly Buried Impaired Breathing
- 0
WSAR response to assist snowshoe party of two, that are part of a group of six. Group reached drainage gully at base of spectrum peak, and two party members decide to turn back and return to trail head. Remaining four ascend to summit of Spectrum Peak. Two members of the party begin descent, with two remaining on the summit. Subsequently the two on the summit report seeing 'cracking', and hear the sound of snow sliding and decide they are unwilling to descend, and call for assistance. Upon helicopter approach WSAR members view evidence of a size 1.5 avalanche with a deep deposition area in a creek bed feature. Snowshoe tracks within, and around deposition area and toe of slide are also observed. Helicopter lands on the summit, and upon discussion with the two subjects requiring assistance, are notified that the avalanche was not visible on their ascent, and they have been attempting, but have not had any mobile phone correspondence with any of the other four members of their group since they split up. Also determined that none of the party of six had transceiver, probe or shovel. Based on this information response protocol is escalated, and a standby CARDA dog team is notified, and probing of the avalanche debris is about commence. Thankfully within that timeframe, mobile phone contact is obtained with the other members of the party who are all accounted for and descending to the trailhead. Upon later discussion with two members that descended the summit, they noted walking around the avalanche deposit area which was not present on their approach. The deposit covered their approach tracks.