Accident

Date and Location

Accident details

Avalanche Description

Report provided by the party involved 

While ascending we observed strong north northeast winds. we discussed how the winds up high would ideally be stripping the start zones of snow, but also could be cross-loading the start zones, as they were blowing slightly more out of the east than the top of the line’s north aspect. the lower 2000′ feet of the line held 4-6″ of new snow on firm crust with little wind effect. the snow became more wind effected as we ascended the final steep 500′ and triggered the wind slab avalanche.

our intention was to only climb and ski if there was little enough, unconsolidated enough, new snow that the new snow sliding would not harm us (“dust on crust”). at some point the new snow crossed the threshold and was enough to harm us if it slid. we did not recognize that threshold and were taken by surprise by the avalanche.

6-8″ crown of fist hardness, approx. 15′ wide. r1 d1.5. we triggered the avalanche climbing up, less than 100′ feet from the ridge. the avalanche ran about 1000′ vertical to around 11500′. 4 people, boot packing up, were caught and carried short distances and were able to self arrest in the bed surface – firm chalk. everyone transitioned and skied out on the bed surface.