Mt Seymour - Class 1 Avalanche (转)

艳阳天

Mt Seymour - Class 1 Avalanche

Date: 2006.02.26   Lat-Long: 49°23'  122°56'    Lat-Long: 49:23.18-122:56.26

Class 1 slab avalanche triggered at 13:30 on south aspect of some rocky bluffs, immediately west of the Mt Seymour/Elsay Lake trail junction. Around 1200m elev.

Avalanche broke along a 20m fracture line, 25cm crown. Bed surface was icy. 30 degree slope (guestimate) at the release point. Ran for 35m. Slide terminated just at edge of the marked winter route to First Pump Peak.

A skier was above the release point, apparently testing for stability when the avalanche broke a few metres below him. I was busy taking photographs of pinwheel snowballs on the slope (caused by sluffing), so was unaware he was there. I was caught by the slide near its end, buried to waist. No injuries. Several other people were nearby and witnessed the event.

Temperature around +2C.

Avalanche indicator at trailhead was rated "Considerable".

Snow Level Summary:
Not measured. About 25cm of heavy storm snow on top of an icy layer (based on sounds of the skier who descended on the avy track).