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Time to be careful: Avi Incident Report

  • 2010-12-30 01:42:31

    A recent Avi Report highlights an incident in the Rossland Range, time to be carefull and ensure you know what is really going on in the snow pack before you ski:

    Approximately 50metres from the sumit of Mount Robetrs. Slab was triggered on convexity about 5m from the lead skier. Slope angle about 30 degrees. A shalllow 10cm slab first released which in turn led to a deeper 60cm slab to break loose. It ran about 30metres. It quickly stopped when it reached more gentle terrain (20degrees) If terrain had allowed it could have been much more serious.


    moinfo.


  • 2010-12-30 12:40:16

    I saw this slide path not long after. It broke free on an obvious convex feature. Note this was a North/Northwest aspect below the summit ridge - an area subject to frequent and heavy wind. I skied the Hourglass on Robbie that day (northeast, 40 degreeish?) and new snow/slough management was necessary, but no other signs of instability (very good skiing). However my confidence was based on the frequent traffic/ski cutting that occurs on Robbie. I am quite circumspect of the Rossland Range snowpack right now.

    Much of the recent snow was accompanied with heavy winds, resulting in variable and significant wind slab. And the pronounced rain crust now lies 40-60 cm below the surface. It appeared the above avalanche stepped down to this crust. Below the crust the snow appears fairly well consolidated. For the Rossland Range, the CAA currently has the hazard rating trending to Moderate at treeline and above this weekend, but I’m going to treat everything as Considerable as snow dragons are lurking everywhere.