Avalanche on Signal Peak

  Made access to the Signal Peak North Bowl with moderate wind speeds from the Southwest and partial cloud cover. Made my first descent down the North Bowl on a Northeast facing aspect to the base of the bowl with no avalanche activity. Began ascending the similar aspect to the nearest ridgeline North of my ski line and was blocked by a rock outcropping to gain access to the main ridgeline of the bowl. With the more Northern bowl of my position being heavily wind loaded and the rock outcropping mostly covered with ice and thin snow, I made the decision to cross under the rock outcropping heading south to gain access to the main ridgeline again. To accomplish this, I had to cross a North facing sub-ridge that was parallel to the slope. The sub-ridge had evidence of wind loading and had a foot of new snow. I was able to cross 95% the concerning slope when the wind slab propagated an estimated 90 feet behind me and ten feet in front of me. I estimate the crown was ten feet above me.

  The avalanche brought me through a small tree grouping and over a small rock section before I was able to self-arrest above another small cliff ban. Snow covered to the base of my knees and I was able to free my feet without much difficulty. I estimate that I was taken down 800ft in this incident.