Explosive triggered Deep Slab Avalanche at Big Sky

Big Sky Resort
Northern Madison
Code
HS-ABc-R4-D4
Latitude
45.27600
Longitude
-111.43600
Notes

A deep slab avalanche was triggered using explosives on 1/24/2020 in the North Summit Snowfield at Big Sky Resort. 

From email: "The Whale came out close to 10’ deep that tapered to 3’ on the skiers right edge...  It broke on basal facets, thin layer, 1F hard at crown (!) with very hard snow above and below the layer that failed ....  It is likely that the layer that failed had some different characteristics lower in the path that avalanched away- possibly less hard."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
An explosive detonated above the snow surface (air blast)
Trigger Modifier
c-A controlled or intentional release by the indicated trigger
R size
4
D size
4
Slab Thickness
100.0 inches
Weak Layer Grain type
Faceted Crystals
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year