| Trigger | Unknown | Remote Trigger | Yes |
| Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | South |
| Elevation | 1600ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
| Crown Depth | 20in | Width | 70ft |
| Vertical Run | 20ft |
Avalanche: Chugach State Park
Location: N side Eagle River valley
Soft slab slides triggered by snowblower at bases of slopes above 2 driveways.
Avalanche Details
Running a snowblower along the base of a slope on a mountainside driveway in about 20" of new snow during 12/7 storm. While making the first pass, depositing snow uphill about 10', the snow pack fractured about 20' up on the cut bank below the trees and propagated behind me for about 20' and ahead, on the slope above the house, for about 50'. Slope angle 30º or greater; no wind during the storm; the slide went full depth of the new snow. Similarly, the new snow failed as a soft slab on a much shorter slope below the road just as I cut along the base of it, not depositing snow on it (photo). Shooting cracks observed here.
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observer Comments
Shooting cracks seen on smaller slope.
Weather
Steady snow, calm, about 21ºF.
Snow surface
Soft, new, small-grained snow (somewhat sandy texture).
Small soft slab that failed with blower cut at toe of slope (no photo of larger slide)