Detailed Observation

Date2022-04-11
LocationValdez
ObserverJeremy Wood
AvalancheN

General Observations

Left road at 11 AM with intent to hike up 40.5 mile wall.  Wind increasing by 12 with active pluming and snow transport in the mids.  Turned around at 3200 feet on west facing aspect due to concern about reactive windslab, and on way down first rider ski cut produced D2 slab between 1′-3′ thick.  First rider carried 500 vertical feet with airbag deployment and stayed on top.  Second rider pulled onto slab as well, but stopped on bed surface 50-100 vertical feet, also deployed airbag.  First rider (skier) had poles and one ski also on surface, 30 minutes of probing produced buried ski and both riders exited without further difficulty.

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Weather Observations

Observed Avalanche Activity