Swift creek avalanche
Observed Feb 23, 2021, 2:45 p.m. PST
This report was submitted with an older form.
Avalanche report
- Comment
- Settlement occurred after the party of three had skied the slope. Transitioned to skinning and proceeded up slope for second run. Initial settlement was observed and discussed as a group. Immediately after a much larger settlement the propagated up slope triggering entire slope.
- Run length
- 500
- Slab width
- 250
- Trigger type
- Skier
- Wind exposure
- Cross loaded slope
- Avalanche size
- 3
- Slab thickness
- 50
- Trigger sub type
- Accidental
- Start zone aspect
- S
- Vegetation cover
- Sparse trees
- Start zone incline
- 35
- Avalanche character
- Wind slab
- Number of avalanches
- 1
- Start zone elevation
- 2200
- Runout zone elevation
- 1850
- Avalanche observation
- 12to24hrsAgo
- Weak layer crystal type
- Storm snow
- Start zone elevation band
- Tln
- Avalanche occurrence datetime
- 2021-02-23T02:45:00
Snowpack report
- Obs type
- Summary
- Site aspect
- S
- Site elevation
- 2100
- Ski penetration
- 15
- Cracking observed
- No
- Site elevation band
- Tln
- Surface conditions
- New snow
- Whumpfing observed
- Yes
Weather report
- Wind speed
- Wind speed strong
- Blowing snow
- Moderate
- Sky condition
- Broken clouds
- Wind direction
- W
- New snow24hours
- 10
- Storm start date
- 2021-02-22T14:39:00.000Z
- Storm snow amount
- 30
- Temperature trend
- Steady
- Precipitation type
- None
Incident report
- Group size
- 3
- Description
- Party travelled up trees on the west side of slope. Circled around to top of slope to avoid a concerning area of wind loading. At start of slope, skiers descended one at a time and regrouped near the base of the slope below an outcrop of trees. Transitioned to skinning and started an up track over existing ski tracks. Group discussed possible terrain trap to the east. Second person felt a settlement and notified party. Shortly after a much larger settlement occurred and triggered a wind loaded section at ridge line. This triggered remaining slope. All parties were caught in the ensuing avalanche. Two members had avalanche airbags and deployed them during the slide. One member came to rest face down, head down but was able to clear their face and remove their backpack to initiate SOS. self extricated and initiated beacon search. Travelled upslope and found second member face up, head down and partially buried. Assisted in their extrication and continued beacon search for third missing group member. Unable to obtain signal and believe SOS device was negatively affecting search function (intermittent signal found and chased from 70m to 20m before lost, numerous times). Search and rescue arrived on scene at 5pm.
- Terrain trap
- Trees, Gully depression
- Group activity
- Skiing
- Number involved
- 1
- Number fully buried
- 1
- Terrain shape trigger point
- Convex