Full burial

Location Name: 
R1
Region: 
Selkirk Mountains
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Wed, 01/24/2018 - 09:50


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Public
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Slab
Slope: 
38degrees
Trigger type: 
Snowboarder
Crown Height: 
1 ft
Aspect: 
Northeast
Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Width: 
60ft.
Terrain: 
Below Treeline
Elevation: 
5 900ft.
Bed Surface: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Length: 
150ft.
Number of similar avalanches: 
More than 10
Number of people caught: 
1
Number of full burials: 
1
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

Snowboarder rode out of controlled avalanche path and into untracked powder. Looked uphill and noticed fracture and slide above him. Told me that he was managing the slide and keeping in front of it until the terrain flattened whereupon slide caught up to him, knocked him over, and pushed him over a rock. He landed prone with head downhill while debris piled over him, leaving him a small pocket of visible daylight. He then cleared snow from in front of his face, started waving his hand and calling for help. Two skiers heard him and notified patrol who was responding to an injury in the area. Patrol abandoned injury and was on scene to dig snowboarder out. No injuries to snowboarder. Snowboard and feet buried approximately one meter.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

22" of new in past 24 hours and 2.25" SWE added to the pack. Periods of strong to extreme overnight SW winds. Storm snow sensitive to skier and explosive triggers. Area had been controlled with explosives an hour prior to incident- snowboarder found a pocket of untouched snow. Coordinate locations are approximate for burial.