Crown Profile Observation indicated that the slide began initially as a Loose Dry descending down a steep chute above the path during the tail end of the High PI on the early morning hours of the 27th. As this Loose Dry entered into the bowl below the cliff bands it triggered a 15cm deep Storm Slab Avalanche that propagated at least 70 meters wide. This 15cm Storm Slab appeared to fail on a density change in the recent event. As this Storm Slab descended it came to a steep rollover section on the apron, and then it stepped down to a total of 70cm, and ran on the October 17-18th early season snow that is now a 10cm Knife Hard m/f crust.

The weak layer failed at the interface to this m/f crust and was a 10cm layer of Fist Hard 3mm Advanced Facets. The Slab and or HS at the Crown was 70cm deep and consisted of a variety of faceted layers and disintegrating crusts that were on average 4 Finger Plus throughout all the old snow that fell prior to the most recent event. The new snow (and top layer) from the recent event has settled to 25cm of Fist Hardness. The steepest part of the slide (and where the Crown Profile was dug) was 40 degrees, with the flanks having slope angles of 35 degrees. The Bed Surface was very slick and hard with 5cm of storm snow resting on top of it.

Forecaster Comments: Solitude is currently open to uphill travel. Before heading uphill in that zone check the most recent information HERE.