Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Occurrence

General Information

Debris from a large avalanche that was remotely triggered above Hyndman Creek in the Pioneer Mountains. This slide failed in a heavily wind loaded area and likely involved a persistent weak layer. It covered the summer trail with a pile of debris that was 100-150' wide and 4' deep.

Observer:
SAC Forecaster

Verified by SAC?
Yes

Occurrence Date:
Jan 1, 2023 3:30 pm (Exact)

Location:
Hyndman Creek - "Peanut"

Comments:

Remotely triggered by a skier from 75' away. This slide ran down and covered the summer trail with a reported 4' of debris, 100-150' wide. It occurred on a slope that was actively being wind-loaded.

Avalanche Characteristics

# of Avys:
1
Aspect:
S
Start Zone Elev:
9500ft
Size:
D3
Type:
HS-Hard Slab
Trigger:
AS-Skier
r-Remote
Depth:
1.5ft (max: 2ft)
Width:
1310ft
Vertical Fall:
1900ft
Weak Layer:
Nov 27, 2022 (FC)
Comments:

This avalanche involved a very dense slab. This slope is very exposed to the effects of the wind and sun and the snowpack at the crown was not a well-stratified one and the details about weak layer involvement are a little murky. Details of the crown had been obscured by ongoing loading when SAC forecasters visited the site the following day. This slope is relatively narrow at the top, but the crown extended a long distance down the ridgeline on the looker's right side of the slope and the crown width is an estimated 1/4 mile.

Media

Debris from a large avalanche that was remotely triggered above Hyndman Creek in the Pioneer Mountains. This slide failed in a heavily wind loaded area and likely involved a persistent weak layer. It covered the summer trail with a pile of debris that was 100-150' wide and 4' deep.
Debris from a large avalanche that was remotely triggered above Hyndman Creek in the Pioneer Mountains. This slide failed in a heavily wind loaded area and likely involved a persistent weak layer. It covered the summer trail with a pile of debris that was 100-150' wide and 4' deep.