Photos below were taken on Saturday, two days after the slide (credit Joe Kurtak).
Joe was also was able to get some pit data from ~300' north of the lower end of debris. Note: this area had not seen the wind loading that occurred higher on the slope near the crown. The crown was obscured by subsequent wind loading since time of avalanche. Alpha angle = 28deg.
Avalanche: Chugach State Park
Location: Peak 3 northwest gully-standard approach from canyon rd.
Human triggered avalanche. On standard gut approach, released while skinning below summit rocks. I was the first on the slope after the recent snowfall. The windslab broke 100′ above me in rocks near summit. Ran 500′-600′ feet. I was caught and rode 450′. Not injured. Crown was 12-15′. The crown seemed to propitiate down to skiers left, lookers right, into a wind loaded more northern aspect. The slide entrained a large volume of storm snow.
Forecaster Comments
| Trigger | Skier | Remote Trigger | Unknown |
| Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | West Northwest |
| Elevation | 3400ft | Slope Angle | 30deg |
| Crown Depth | 13in | Width | 125ft |
| Vertical Run | 600ft |
Near Miss / Accident Details
| Number Caught/Carried? | 1 | Number Partially Buried? | 1 |
| Number Fully Buried? | 0 | Number Injured? | 0 |
| Number Fatalities? | 0 |
Observer Comments
Natural point release on Peak 2. low volume similar aspect.
No cracking or whumpfing seen on Peak 3 before avalanche released.
Weather
clear
Snow surface
bed surface hardpack
Snowpack
multiple layers. top layers were 20-30cm fresh with wind loaded sections near summit
Peak3 Avalanche Debris Field outlined on 102321.
Peak3 Avalanche Debris Field 102321.
Peak 3 avalanche in distance
Avalanche outlined
PeakThreeNWaspect-23-Oct