Windslab problem

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/11/2016
Name: Eliot Rosenberg
Subject: Windslab problem
Aspect: South East, South
Elevation: Approx. 12,000 feet

Avalanches: Small skier triggered windslab avalanche on Ruby at approx. 12,000 ft. on a 35+ degree, SSE slope. Slide broke near rocks during our initial bootpack approach and propagated approx. 25 ft. with an eventual path approx. 60 ft. wide and 90 ft. long. Fast moving bed interface, some slabs were 6-8″ thick. Skier was caught but not carried or buried.
Weather: Cold, sunny, mostly blue skies, windy on the ridgelines and summits
Snowpack: Snow was variable, breaking trail it felt supportive until higher elevation, that’s when we got our warning

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