Aspen

Avalanche

Anonymous · Dec 29, 2021

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Weather

15-25°, sustained winds, light but fairly constant snow flurries. 10200’. North facing aspect where avalanche occurred.

Snowpack

Zero feedback from the snow on any aspect throughout the day. 130cm + deep. North face was heavily wind loaded with a full band of cornices. Huntsman Ridge at 10200’.

Avalanche

Intentionally released multiple cornices from above on the north facing slope with no clear sign of reactive snowpack underneath. Knowing it was there we released a very large cornice (approximately 15’ long, 8’ wide, 8’ deep) and watched the whole slope below pull. The slide propagated to entrain the whole avi path below. Slid on the base layer. Crown that was left was 3-4’. North facing 35-40 degree slope, 10200’, clearly wind loaded.