| Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
| Avalanche Type | Dry Loose Snow | Aspect | South Southeast |
| Elevation | 2000ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
| Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
| Vertical Run | 1000ft |
Avalanche: Turnagain
Location: Bertha Creek Campground
Above the Bertha Creek Campground area (2400′ – 1,200′).
We meadow skipped several laps from 10am – 2pm. The avalanche pictured was not present when we entered the area in the morning, we only saw it after we left in the afternoon. The avalanche is on an aspect turned slightly more towards the sun, which perhaps accounts for the point release(s?) and the propagation of the surface snow. The snow we skied on didn’t even slough.
FORECASTER UPDATE – 8am, Friday February 3rd:
The avalanche mentioned above was reported to have been older by another party. It is possible the slide occurred prior to Thursday, January 2nd.
Avalanche Details
One or more point release(s) that entrained a surprising amount of snow into a terrain trap below treeline. Probably only 5-20cm deep. Did not look like it stepped down into the slab, loose surface snow only.
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observer Comments
Several older avalanches seen across the road on Sunburst/Magnum/Petes. We found almost no signs of instability during our tour, one small collapse when skinning over a particularly thin snowpack over vegetation, otherwise 3-20cm of dry loose snow over a dense slab that ranged from 30cm to "more than ski pole" deep.
Weather
inversion. 4F at 800' in lot at 9:45am, hi-20's F at 2,000ft at 11am. calm and very bright sunshine
Snow surface
loose, light wind deposited snow over a dense slab.
Snowpack
didn't dig a pit. quick hand pits found a bomber slab over ground level loose facets.
our tracks to lookers' right of the avalanche. it happened while we were skiing, but we were unaware.