My partner and I started our day with the plan to go check conditions in Homicide chute via suicide on Mt. Superior. We were not very optimistic as the majority of the peak was enveloped in fog. we dug hand pits and did hand shear tests on our approach and were met with exceptional snow stability, however due to the severly poor vis, we bailed around where suicide/dead tree split off.

We decided to ride lower down in tree line for a safer day. We began approaching the rainbow peak shoulder as normal, via the red pine summer trail and gained the ridge just before turning into red pine drainage. As we made our way up we saw little wind affect on the easterly/northerly side of the ridge but as we gained elevation and the more prominent section of the ridge, wind was moderate but clearly had been moving some snow. We made the guess that the wind affect was primarily in the upper 50-100ft of the ridge and it would settle lower down. and wind slabs would be non-existent.

We transitioned at 9600 ft and dug one more pit and acklowledged the wind slab was present but we both felt it was managable via safe riding practices(ski cut, seeking islands of safety, etc). My partner dropped first and made it about 600ft below and pulled off to a safe location, no problems. My turn, I took a similar route down the line but made my second turn just passed his track and the ground underneith my board shattered. A small but fast running wind slab released and I was able to dart off at a downslope 45" angle with enough speed to get to a safe space to let it run by. As that happened I communicated with my partner that I had released a slab and it was moving fast. He quickly radioed back and confirmed all was okay below.

All to say the slide was roughly 12 inches deep, 15-25ft wide, and ran roughly 200-300 ft into a tree lined hallway. Glad to say I was able to manage the accident well but spooked us for sure. Maybe not enough to bury a person but enough to pull you off your feet and take you for a ride, potentially into trees. - See photos below.

Be careful with this new storm snow and more on the way.