Deep Slab Instability at Lionhead

This pit was dug on a northwest facing slope at 8,750' in Lionhead.  A dense, six foot thick pencil hardness slab is being supported by fist hardness depth hoar.  I scooped out some in my hand. The column broke on this layer and I was able to lay the pillar, intact, outside the snowpit. The deeper the depth hoar gets buried, the more difficult it becomes to trigger. But if you get unlucky and trigger it the avalanche will be large, destructive and deadly.  Photo: GNFAC