Our field day involved visiting the site of a human-triggered avalanche on Raymond Glade that occurred on Wednesday, March 27 where the rider who was caught and carried sustained a broken arm, but the party was able to self-rescue. We dug a pit on a slope adjacent to the crown and got full propagation with an extended column test (photo below). Because of hangfire, we were unable to safely access the crown, but we were able to move down a lower-angled slope adjacent to the slide path, and enter the bed surface approximately 500' below the starting zone. This portion of the slope had less wind-loading than in the starting zone, but the weak layer consisting of low-density stellars down 30-35 cms was still present. We performed several extended column tests along the flank of the avalanche, with full propagation in 6 tests, failing between 15 and 20 taps. However, on an adjacent slope 15' away, extended column tests were either ECTN (fracture but not propagation) or ECTX (no fracture). These mixed results show why you need to dig in several areas and never rely on one pit result.

After looking at this avalanche and the results of pit scores indicate recent density inversions remain reactive and likely will be sensitive for at least a few more days.