Wheaton Valley Glades
Avalanchejonathanmarkproctor · Feb 28, 2021 · Wheaton
Quick report
- Weather
- sunny
- Ride Type
- steepSlopes, openTrees
- Stayed Away
- convexSlopes, alpineSlopes
- Riding Quality
- amazing
- Snow Conditions
- deepPowder
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionSound
Found a great sheltered little glade in the Wheaton Valley region with the pass being shut. Deep unconsolidated powder in the sheltered shoulder of the glade with noticeably more wind impacted snow as we gained the ridgetop. Approached with caution given the high wind slab hazard but noticed no hard slab formations once in the sheltered trees, just plenty of sluff and a bit of a soft slab forming from the recent storm snow and warmer temperatures.
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 50
- 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
- sparseTrees
- Avalanche Character
- stormSlab
- Number Of Avalanches
- 1
- Weak Layer Crystal Type
- surfaceHoarAndFacets
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- tln
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2021-02-28T15:30:00
A member of another group seperate to ours triggered a medium sized soft slab avalanche that likely ran on a buried surface hoar layer or faceted snow on a gladed sheltered slope adjacent to where we were riding. Partial burial, no injury able to self rescue fortunately as the skier had transitioned and left his partner at the top of the run with zero communication.