2005
- 2006 SEASON |
| Hammil
Chute Area, Mammoth Crest |
Dec.
18, 2005 |
- General
incident
- December
17, 2005. Time: unknown. Place: Hammil Bowl
- Number
caught: 1 in two separate incidents
- Number
buried: none
- Number
killed and injured: none
- Narrative:
For
a complete narrative, click
here.
- Avalanche
- Snow
conditions: from narrative and personal observations of
wind redistribution of snow from southwest winds, the
slope was getting windloaded. The wind deposited snow
was falling on three or four inches of recrystallized
snow from the Dec. 8 storm.
- Crown
depth: Avalanche #1: 6 inches. Avalanche #2: 10 inches
- Slab
width/length: Avalanche #1: 50 ft width. Avalanche #2:
50 ft.
- Avalanche
Type (HS, SS, WS, etc.). Probably soft slab
- Starting
Zone (Slope, Aspect, Elevation): 20-25 degrees. N to NE
aspect. 10,200 to 10,400 ft.
- Path
length: Avalanche 1: 150 ft. Avalanche #2: 300-400 ft.
- Path-relative
class: not known
- Trigger:
human, for both avalanches
- Ski
cut?: Avalanche #1, no. Avalanche #2: triggered while
skiing (riding).
- Group
dynamics
- Familiar
with terrain?: YES
- Mixed
gender group?: not known
- Sense
of commitment or reaching objective: Party retreated after
first avalanche occurred.
- Level
of training within group: not known
- Was
there a leader?: not known
- Pre-existing
tracks?: Yes, visible in most places except where wind
loading had covered tracks.
- Rescue
gear? Trained in its use?: not known
- Any
formal snow evaluation?: not known
- Any
“hasty” snow evaluation?: not known
- Any
discussion of conditions?: Not known
- Danger
signs?
- Recent
new snow/SWE deposition?: Last storm was December 8 with
3-5 inches accumulation.
- Wind
loading?: YES
- Avalanches
visible on other slopes?: not known
- Whoomphing,
cracking, other signs of instability?: Yes
- Avalanche
advisory at the time?: Yes, the danger rating was low
to moderate
- Terrain
trap?: no
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