Public Field Report
Observation Details
Observation Date:
March 5, 2023Submitted:
March 5, 2023Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley MtnsActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
North Face of Della MountainTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
6500Aspect:
NWComments:
North Face of Della at 6500'. Slide ran nearly to the valley floor. 10-20 feet wide? Crown was a foot+.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
NoDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
YesObservations
Going up the ridge there were a few whomps on the hard wind slabs. I knew the snow was wind deposited in the gullies and the danger was considerable. My plan was to ski the side of a gully. I recognized the slope increase and proceeded to cut across the slope both as a skier cut and to find soft snow. I was already to the opposite side of the avalanche when it propagated and was easily able to ski away. My decision to enter that area was based on the overall slope angle being below 30 degrees, however, looking back at the slope on CalTopo https://caltopo.com/m/7ML1U I bullseyed the small 32-34 degree pocket. Though it initiated without a lot of energy, it picked up speed. I was surprised that it slid as far and as fast as it did.
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