Two caught in wind slab avalanche in Davis Creek (D1.5).

We received notification of this avalanche this morning (Thursday 2/7) so we went to investigate it. Upon arrival at the avalanche site, we were able to determine that the avalanche was unintentionally human triggered and likely occurred the morning of Tuesday 2/5. The crown and debris were covered in 2 to 6 inches of storm snow which would have fallen during periodic snow showers on Tuesday.  Two snowboard or ski tracks covered in the same amount of snow led into the avalanche and then exited from shallow holes in the upper portion of the debris field. It appears that two individuals were caught in the same avalanche and experienced very minor partial burial. Both tracks then exited the debris field.

Investigating the crown and bed surface, we were able to determine that this was a D1.5 wind slab that failed within the storm snow.  The crown wrapped across NE-E-SE aspect walls of a previously wind loaded gully feature. Crown height was just over 1 foot on the NE side, tapering down to 6 inches across the E and SE aspects away from the area of greatest wind load deposition. Slope angle at the starting zone was 40 degrees. No signs of current instability existed with 2xECTX scores on the crown today. Both the base of the slab and the bed surface are now 4F+ hardness. No signs of other slab avalanche activity on the adjacent slopes.