We had been experiencing collapsing everywhere that at times was like rolling thunder, not just a womph, but a wommmmph. last Saturdays and Mondays storm had left 12" of new snow with nearly 1.5" of water, then overnight we picked up another 6" on much lower density and significant wind. I was approaching this terrain feature we consistently use as a test slope and noted it was wind loaded, more midslope on the steeper break over that at the top, but no cornice had formed where we usually find one.

I stayed on the flat bench below the slope as far away as I could, noted the snow was much more shallow with weeds still sticking out and a sun zipper crust on the surface. The rest of our group remained back in the trees out of the way. Steve was going to work his way up the skiers right side of the small bowl as I approached the center headed for the far side and lower angle ridge line. Steve had only taken a couple of steps but another large collapse occurred and I watched the slope fracture, propagating up hill of Steve about 75' near exposed rocks and continuing south to include the entire bowl and changing aspect to NE. Needless to say I had already reversed direction and was moving quickly out from underneath. The snow collapsed loudly below my skis, but we were unsure if Steve had collapsed it, or I had. Debris ran just to where my ski track had stopped and I reverse direction.

We had seen this slope fail before, once continuing north through much lower angle terrain, but today was confined to the terrain feature. No step down occurred, and involved snow since last week, but did not step down.

This area repeat and is facing almost east, bed surface was old hard wind slab,

Fracture continued into low angle terrain above steeper slope. No obvious weaker snow, ie surface hoar or NSF, the area gets a lot of direct east sun. Remotely triggered from the bottom over a hundred feet away.