Avalanche: Turnagain

Group of 3 out for a low angle day skiing tincan trees. Headed to midway to do a group assessment of snowpack about 500’ above the trees on the main up track. Visibility began degrading at 1130am and the group decided to descend and ski tree line and below.

The group headed far north and cut west toward the highway waiting and watching each person ski. On the second to last pitch before transition, there was a large open field with a convex roller that reached 35 degrees or steeper for a very short pitch.

First skier saw the roller and cut hard left to a lower angle, triggering an avalanche remotely on the steeper rollover. The snowpack felt “loose” beneath them, however, there was no energy release, whomphing, or noise and they did not notice until reaching the bottom to watch the other skiers.

Group skied 2 more runs sticking within the trees and aspects previously skid without signs of instability.

Weather degraded into heavy snow by 2pm.