Observation Date:
January 6, 2021
Submitted:
January 6, 2021
Zone or Region:
Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mtns
Activity:
Snowmobiling/Snowbiking
Location:
Western Smokys
Did you trigger any avalanches?
Yes
Was it intentional?
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
8600ft
Aspect:
E
Comments:
Safely Remote triggered from over 100ft away, felt a collapse under my sled, then watched this test slope avalanche and the shooting crack continue 100ft or so past the slide area. Entire creekbed on both sides collapsed and obvious shooting cracks visible.
Aprox. 100ft wide, ran about 20ft into creek bed. 60cm thick slab. 36 degree slope.
Did you observe any avalanches?
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 3: Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees
Elevation:
9000ft
Aspect:
E
Comments:
Saw a decent sizeD3 avalanche (windslab) in upper elevation windloaded terrain, crown was close to 4-5ft, directly exposed to high wind, avalanche stepped down to persistent slab mid slope
also some smaller windslabs that had slide that were closer to D1 in mid to upper elevation near exposed rocky eastern face
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, Isolated
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, Isolated
ECTP21 SC down @ 45cm HS: 106cm East facing 20 degree slope 8600ft. Light wind and bluebird day. 24F at trailhead, sun felt warmer at higher elevation.
Went out today with an assessment mindset - with goal of avoiding steep terrain, avoid upper elevation wind loaded terrain. Dug a test pit to start the day and after seeing a 60cm slab suddenly collapse in our pit we stuck to our goal of staying in safe low angle terrain and being mindful of the terrain and what slope angles we traveled on, above, and below.
Was a great reminder to see our test slope avalanche from remote triggering over 100ft away, would not want to be on the receiving end of that slab smashing you!