From obs: "A natural avalanche occurred on an East aspect in the Maid of the Mist basin. It appeared to have slid last night/this morning. Visibility made it difficult to determine the extent of the debris or the depth of the crown." Photo: S. Wilson
From group: "We skinned into the Ernest Miller Ridge area this morning around 8:40am. There was 18-24 inches of fresh storm snow in the bacon rind creek area. As we skinned in, we observed whoomphing and cracking throughout the basin. We ascended right of the normal trail in mellower terrain to the lower bench area. We took a break there and after discussion of the terrain and safe areas to ascend were getting ready to head to the far lookers left trees. A giant collapse happened as we were standing there and sent an almost shockwave like effect up the hill, small ripples and cracks formed way above and away from us and the entire face of Ernest Miller Ridge ripped out and ran the distance of the ridge. We were out of the way of any runout zone and away from the face so in a safe space. It was the largest remote trigger that I have ever experienced and witnessed out in the field."
"Where we triggered the slide , the slope was about 24 degrees, it then triggers on 30ish degrees and then sent the rest of the basin."
Skiers remotely triggered this slide, from low angle terrain, below and far to the side on 1/30/21. It is on Ernie Miller ridge near Bacon Rind on E aspect around 9,000' elev. Click below for more info.
Skiers remotely triggered this slide, from low angle terrain, below and far to the side on 1/30/21. It is on Ernie Miller ridge near Bacon Rind on E aspect around 9,000' elev. Click below for more info.
Skiers remotely triggered this slide, from low angle terrain, below and far to the side on 1/30/21. It is on Ernie Miller ridge near Bacon Rind on E aspect around 9,000' elev. Click below for more info.
Skiers remotely triggered this slide, from low angle terrain, below and far to the side on 1/30/21. It is on Ernie Miller ridge near Bacon Rind on E aspect around 9,000' elev. Click below for more info.
Skiers remotely triggered this slide, from low angle terrain, below and far to the side on 1/30/21. It is on Ernie Miller ridge near Bacon Rind on E aspect around 9,000' elev. Click below for more info.
Skiers reported widespread collapsing and cracking of the snowpack, breaking on weak sugary snow near the ground, and said, "snow was falling off trees hundreds of feet away with some collapses." Photo: E. Knoff
This avalanche was triggered on 1/30/21 by skiers from low angle terrain adjacent to the slope, and a long ways away. Photo: G. Stevens
