Observer Name
Kobernik, Staples, Trenbeath
Observation Date
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Avalanche Date
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Left Fork Huntington Canyon » Lake Canyon » North Fork Lake Canyon
Location Name or Route
Headwall just north of the Towhead
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
Southeast
Trigger
Snowmobiler
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Cornice
Weak Layer
Density Change
Width
300'
Vertical
200'
Caught
1
Carried
1
Buried - Partly
1
Comments
A snowmobiler was riding along on top of a ridge. He rode too close to the edge of a very large cornice and it broke off. He was thrown off with the cornice. He flew at least 30 feet before landing on the snow. He deployed his airbag and ended up partially buried but with no serious injuries. He was able to recover his sled and ride down off the debris.
Comments
The majority of the snow involved with this avalanche was from the cornice itself. There was some snow that was entrained from the slope below as the cornice slid down and broke apart. The debris was at least a couple of feet deep with MASSIVE chunks of cornice still intact.
Coordinates