The complete accident report is now available here.
Location: Paradise Divide Area, Washington Gulch near Elkton.
Date of Observation: 12/12/2016
Name: Evan Ross
Date of Observation: 12/12/2016
Name: Evan Ross
Subject: Snowmobiler triggered, caught and buried
Aspect: North
Elevation: 11,250
Aspect: North
Elevation: 11,250
Avalanches: 2nd hand information. Snowmobiler triggered, was caught and buried by a persistent slab avalanche. They were rescued by the rest of their party, and did not sustain any injuries.
Average slope angle across the bed surface was 39 degrees. Crown was about 175ft wide and 3ft deep. Persistent slab failed at the ground on 2mm faceted grains, 4f- hard.
Weather:
Snowpack:
Crown Profile
Looking across the crown
Looking up at the crown
Burial Location
Looking upslope. The burial location is in the foreground.