Observation: Turnagain

Location: Base of Turnagain - Motor side

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Late in the day my group was playing on a lower rolling hillside. One of our group ( #1) was navigating through a small gully and I had hiked the 50 feet across to help him out. Another partner (#2) was on top of the adjacent hill (small – about 15 feet high) to help mark the snow with branches and such on the hill and gully ( got to flat light).
#1 needed to sidehill the bottom of the gully to get out. He did so without any problem. While doing that, rider #2 heard and felt the snow under him shift and sink with a whumpfing sound. The entire side had shifted and collapsed due to #1 taking out the base anchor while doing a low side hill.
No further exam of the area was done due to flat light and time to leave.

Note: drop pin is approximate, danger above us was minimal and discussed.
Heads up… the danger is out there!

Contact, Location & General Observations
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Forecaster Comments

Big thanks to the riders for sharing their report of a collapsing snowpack (large whumpf) from the lower hills near Seattle Ridge.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?No
Collapsing (Whumphing)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Large whumpf felt and heard by rider.