Human triggered wind slab on Lulu

Lulu Pass
Cooke City
Code
SS-AFr-R2-D2-S
Elevation
10000
Aspect
S
Latitude
45.07090
Longitude
-109.95800
Notes

We triggered this avalanche of wind-drifted snow as we approached very carefully from a low angle slope above, on 1/30/2020. This was near Lulu Pass outside Cooke City on a south facing slope at 10,000'. It broke within recently drifted snow, but these slabs could be enough weight to break deeper and wider on sugary layers deep in the snowpack. I initially approached where the cor cornice s a little steeper (no overhang though), and then I got that funny feeling and backed off and went to safer feeling spot with the intention to dig at the top of the slope. It broke within the recent snow/wind load, and did not step down. It was about 100’ wide x 70’ long x 2-3’ deep.

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Foot penetration
Trigger Modifier
r-A remote avalanche released by the indicated trigger
R size
2
D size
2
Bed Surface
S - Avalanche released within new snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Vertical Fall
50ft
Slab Width
100.00ft
Weak Layer Grain type
Decomposing and Fragmented precipitation particles
Weak Layer Hardness
4F
Slab Layer Grain Type
Wind Broken precipitation particles
Slab Layer Hardness
4F+
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year