Skier triggered 2 wind slabs on Abiathar

Abiathar Peak
Out of Advisory Area
Code
SS-ASu-R2-D1.5-I
Elevation
10500
Aspect
N
Latitude
44.97560
Longitude
-110.03100
Notes

Skiers triggered a wind slab while ascending the north couloir on Abiathar Peak on 1/2/21. On their descent they triggered another similar sized slab. They were not caught or injured, and felt lucky to "dodge a bullet". 

From email: "We approached Abiathar north cirque intending to climb and ski the north couloir. Two extended column tests were performed and it was determined that the main threat was new snow on shallow facets... At approx 10,500' the first member of our party released the first slab, so we pulled the plug and began to prepare for descent. Upon descent, I dropped first and faded left to eddy out behind a rock outcrop and released the second slab, which broke just upslope of me. I was able to edge into the bed surface and the slab ran past without incident."

Number of slides
2
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
2
D size
1.5
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
10.0 inches
Slab Width
15.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year