Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Sunburst

Date:
Observer:
Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect Southwest
Elevation 3500ftSlope Angle 35deg
Crown Depth 12inWidth 100ft
Vertical Run 200ft  
Avalanche Details

We've skied Sunburst the last two days. It is possible that we were the group that remotely triggered the slide caught in the video on 11/22/2016. On that day, in the vicinity of the described remote trigger, when I stepped off the existing skin track on a very mellow slope, cracks immediately shot from my skis. These cracks disappeared out of sight 100 feet away, continuing over the roll and kept forming as I skinned forward. A picture of one of these shooting cracks is attached.

Today, we triggered slides on 2 of the 3 laps we skied. Of note, we triggered 2 slides on the slope that yesterday's group of 4 had already triggered 2 slides on. I ski cut the slope at the upper roll over before entering. There was no movement and I started to ski. 50 feet down the slope, an avalanche broke above me (just below my ski cut) and continued to expand as I egressed the slope at a diagonal. I was not caught. When my partner dropped into the slope after me, an additional pocket broke above him. This pocket joined the existing crown. Both of these slides broke above us and moved extremely fast. They were nearly impossible to escape from. A picture of the described slope is attached.

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?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?Yes
Photos & Video
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