April 2 avalanches

April 2

Natural and human triggered slides

A storm yesterday with strong winds and a short period of intense snowfall, a common theme, in the last couple of weeks, proved to be a good day to get out and view avalanches.

This is a skier triggered slide, Toledo chute, southeast facing. It was less than a foot deep, new snow layering, cut out, during the descent.

Here's another slide, triggered with a slope cut. It also has a southeast aspect.

Several more slides, all skier triggered, slope cutting, were viewd on the way to Cardiff pass.

The view from just west of the pass on the Eyebrow reveals natural activity on a good portion of the upper drainage east and southeast facing. Cardiac pass to the lookers left, including part of the ridge.

This is a view od the rock slab area, north of the previous picture and a contiuation of the same ridge. Natural activity on northeast through southeast facing. The pattern indicates that warming from March 30-31 combined with rapid loading from both the snow and westerly winds caused a poor bond, particularly on easterly aspects

This was further confirmed by this slide. A seqence of photos here and here provide good information on the skier initiated slide.

This pocket pulled out with a slope cut after several descents on the adjacent slope. Slightly different aspect, recieving a bit more wind load. It occurred in upper Mill B South on Superior. The aspect is north facing, showing a pocket of active drifting oin cross loaded terrain.

Natural acivity in Mineral fork. Santiago, a steep promenent buttress, north of the upper bowl has activity similar to that found by the skiers on Cardiac ridge. Significant avalanches in the steeper, more prone to loading terrain.

It was a beautiful spring day in the mountains, both eventful and interesting. Warming in the afternoon, required an early exit, staying ahead of the wet slide potential.