Adirondack CommunityAvalanche Project

Triggered Avalanche

Slab

D3: Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees.

100' width at start. Sluff traveled / ran off 1,500' to the bottom of the slide

Observation Details

There was a whoomp heard 10-20 seconds prior to the collapse of the slide about 500' above us (top of the slide) and possibly one prior to that. Other than that there were no immediate indications observed. The entire slide released, an approximate width of 100’, and we estimate that it traveled 1,500 feet in total. I and one other skier (traveling with me) were caught in it, swept 150’ and buried. I estimate that I was only 1-2’ under and able to free myself relatively quickly (however Garmin data indicates I may have been under for 5-6 min). With the use of a BCA beacon which we had tested prior to starting, I was able to locate the other skier about 25-30' away from me (initial beacon reading was 9 meters). He was inverted and fully buried under 4-5 feet of snow. I was able to dig him out using my hands and avy shovel. I estimate he was under for (10-15 min total). He was not responsive immediately but breathing faintly. He regained consciousness after his face was exposed for a few minutes while I continued to free the rest of his body.

We had skinned in from ADK Loj via Marcy Dam and up the ravine at the bottom of the slides, however we followed prior tracks into the trees for a while before traversing the slide above the ravine. While dense, the surface snow on the slide was relatively dry despite the recent "unseasonably warm" 30s.