There was a snowmobile triggered persistent slab in this area today that resulted in a partial burial. Details under Avalanche Details tab. We found the mid elevation snowpack to be problematic and it was easy to trigger small slopes. These avalanches were breaking to the ground, underneath the Thanksgiving crust in a 6-7 inch layer of large facets. Shooting cracks and avalanches were evident on most roadside slopes when we did any sidehilling with the snowmobiles.
We were still able to find our Thanksgiving crust today, although it seemed to be gaining strength at the upper elevations and was unreactive in our stability tests. The top 6-8 inches of snow is moving with ease at a slight density change between our last two storm events.
We left from the Grave Cr parking lot and rode up near Stahl Pk, through the pass to Theriault lakes. From there we rode the road around back to the trailhead.
Two snowmobilers were crossing under a road cut and slightly sidehilling above the road. They accidentaly remotely triggered the slope above them. Rider number one kept riding, unaware of the avalanche. Rider number two was knocked off of his sled and buried mid chest. The first rider turned around, came back and dug up the buried individual and the sled.
