Slab avalanche S side Ward Canyon

Location Name: 
S side Ward Canyon
Region: 
Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sat, 12/24/2016 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 7' 43.68" N, 120° 13' 3.792" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Guide at Donner Summit Avalanche Seminars
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Dry
Slab
Slope: 
35degrees
Trigger type: 
Natural
Crown Height: 
2 ft
Aspect: 
Northwest
Weak Layer: 
Old Snow
Terrain: 
Below Treeline
Elevation: 
7 400ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

We skied two laps up the S side of Ward Canyon to 8400 feet this morning.  40-45 cm new snow, snowing the whole time we were out there at S2.  Skipen shin deep+.  On our second descent we saw this avalanche that had recently released (due to very little new snow on the bed surface/crown).  It appeared to involve the entire new snow profile sliding on old crust.  We had been skier-triggering very soft slabs within the new snow 15 cm deep on steeper terrain, none of them would propogate far.  We observed or initiated no other fractures or signs of instability at the old/new snow interface.

Hats off to my partners today: great route selection uphill and down, skiing exposed pitches one at a time, keeping in visual contact with each other all morning.  The hazard was real, but highly managable, resulting in some very deep powder skiing with no close calls.  We deployed zero air bags.

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

-8 C when we left the car.  Snow surface showed virtually no influence by the wind on any of the terrain we skied.  HS pretty modest still on valley floor.