Date of Observation: 02/04/2021
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Location: Sunny Shoulder on Irwin Tenure
Aspect: South
Elevation: 11,600
Avalanches: Patroller capture and full burial on Sunny Shoulder Right (SW@ 11.6k near TL) during AM ski checks. Companion rescue, no injuries. The SS-ASu-R2/D2-O 75cm x 15m x 100m ran on a crust, but not the most recent crust; stepped down lower in the track; and fetched up in the compressions zone producing a debris field ~75m wide and up to 3m deep in spots. The slope was not open, but was being prepared for opening. It received ~30 lbs of explosives (6 shots) yesterday including a 17lb air blast.
From the patroller: “The slope failed when I was more than half way down. I never felt or heard a collapse. The avalanche overtook me at the bottom of the slope. I was buried around a tree with a good air pocket. Partner had me dug out in 6 minutes.”
Snowpack: Multiple m/f crust facet layers with our latest two storms on top. The slope had seen four 2-pound explosives as well as an 18-pound air blast the day before with no results.
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