Natural Avalanche in the Taylor Fork

Natural Avalanche in the Taylor Fork

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

There was about 15” of storm snow. One of the slopes in Sage Basin avalanched with a large cornice trigger. The slide failed 85 cm deep (~3 feet) on a layer of surface hoar. The surface hoar was a surprise as we haven't seen avalanches on this layer for a long time. I got an ECTP27 in the flank, and it failed on the same layer of surface hoar as the avalanche. I would recommend minimizing time on wind-loaded slopes or avoiding them all together. Weak layers buried 3-4 feet deep are back in play, and I wouldn't ride a steep slope without testing them quickly. 

Region
Southern Madison
Location (from list)
Taylor Fork
Observer Name
Dave Zinn