Gorman -

Quick report

Weather

warm, stormy, wet, windy

Ride Type

steepSlopes, openTrees

Stayed Away

alpineSlopes, sunnySlopes, convexSlopes

Riding Quality

good

Snow Conditions

windAffected, wet, powder

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSlab, avalancheConditionTemp

Environmental Conditions & Snowpack Extreme wind conditions were observed, with gusts exceeding 70 km/h. The weather was characterized by a storm cycle producing light-to-moderate snowfall, resulting in a total accumulation of approximately 8 cm. Post-midday, significant wind transport (blowing snow) began to redistribute this fresh load. Avalanche Characteristics The combination of new precipitation and high-velocity winds resulted in the rapid development of a reactive wind slab. Trigger: Human-initiated (Snowmobile) Dimensions: Approximately 100 meters wide (equivalent to a football field). Crown Depth: 45–60 cm (1.5 to 2 ft). Composition: Storm-snow accumulation and wind-drifted deposits. Involvement & Rescue A party of five riders was on-site at the time of the release. The slide resulted in one full burial. Burial Depth: Total burial (depth to top of helmet). Equipment: Both the rider and the snowmobile were fully interred. Rescue: The group performed a successful extraction; the subject was recovered in under 60 seconds. Key Technical Takeaways Rapid Loading: The transition from snowfall to wind-driven transport after lunch created a "hair-trigger" slab over a relatively short period. Slab Thickness: A 2-foot crown suggests significant wind-loading efficiency, even with only 8 cm of base snowfall.