Trigger | Snowmachiner | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | West |
Elevation | 5500ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
Vertical Run | unknown |
Archangel valley to the common Lane Glacier up-track
Trigger | Snowmachiner | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | West |
Elevation | 5500ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
Vertical Run | unknown |
Triggered on descent from climb. Rider was able to accelerate past debris and was not caught.
Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Two slides on aspects and elevations similar to our location were observed prior to the incident. See photos 3 and 4.
Snow through Archangel valley had significant water content, it would hold form (snow ball) but I was not able to squeeze water out of it. At higher elevations (>5,000'ish), where the slide was triggered, the snow was still dry.
No formal pit evaluations. Numerous test cuts made on small slopes at all aspects up to 35 degrees (or there about) on approach to Lane. No signs of instability were noticed.