Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Sunnyside ridge

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Started up sunnyside around 12:00 topped out near where the cursor is roughly 2:00. Easy travel on the established track, deep trailbreaking where no trail. Several significant collapses noted trailbreaking in untouched terrain. Descended the lowest angle portion of the first major gully south of repeat offender.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger Unknown
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect Southeast
Elevation 2500ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown Depth 18inWidth 60ft
Vertical Run 400ft  
Avalanche Details

We saw a ski or board triggered avalanche on our hike out that was not there on our ascent. It appeared to be roughly 18" deep x 60 feet wide w slightly wider propagation down slope from the uppermost fracture line. Waited for better vis for a picture but it got much worse right after we first spotted it, sorry no pic.

Of note for our party was that on the ridge there was a wind crust approximately 30cm down from the surface with lighter density snow below this layer. That was what we felt was producing the collapses. This layer was not present on our decent path, it was isolated to the ridge. Perhaps on the slightly more exposed portion where the triggered avalanche was observed this winded layer was present?

Difficult to comment on involvement from our vantage point in fading light.

Avalanche details estimated.

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)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Collapsing isolated to the ridgeline in our travels.