Honney Bronzed/Marriot Basin

Avalanche

chcalladine · Dec 31, 2016 · Duffey

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Quick report

Weather
cold, windy, cloudy, foggy
Ride Type
alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes, openTrees
Stayed Away
convexSlopes
Riding Quality
good
Snow Conditions
powder, deepPowder

Weather

Min Temp
-20
Wind Speed
windSpeedModerate
Blowing Snow
light
Sky Condition
fog
Snowfall Rate
1
Temperature Trend
steady
Precipitation Type
snow

Fog/low clouds coming and going all day making route finding in alpine difficult.

Snowpack

Obs Type
point
Site Aspect
N, NE
Test Fracture
sudden
Site Elevation
2150
Ski Penetration
15
Test Initiation
veryEasy
Foot Penetration
60
Cracking Observed
1
Site Elevation Band
alp
Surface Conditions
variable

Honey Bronzed/Marriott Basin Alpine Bowl, Wind Loaded, NE Facing, 45', natural size 1 observed on similar slope HS>3.5m CTE 3 (PC) down 15 on FC CTM 15 (SP) down 50 on FC CTM 20 (SP) down 90 on SH Dec 26

Avalanche

Run Length
40
Slab Width
15
Trigger Type
skier
Wind Exposure
leeSlope
Avalanche Size
1
Slab Thickness
20
Trigger Sub Type
accidental
Start Zone Aspect
NE
Vegetation Cover
openSlope
Start Zone Incline
50
Avalanche Character
stormSlab
Number Of Avalanches
2-5
Weak Layer Crystal Type
stormSnow
Start Zone Elevation Band
alp
Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
2016-12-31T02:30:00

Skier triggered size 1 on steep wind loaded bowl in Honey Bronzed. Had previously seen natural size 1 on similar aspect/ loading on convexity - dug pit (results attached) with unfavorable results. Adjusted plan to ride mellow slopes. Changing conditions and lowering visibility hampered route finding resulting in skiing steeper avi. prone slope. Triggered size 1 here as previously noted.