Windslab on Jobs Peak

Location Name: 
Jobs Peak (Jaws)
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sun, 01/15/2017 - 13:45
Location Map: 
United States
38° 51' 31.554" N, 119° 51' 41.094" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Public
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Slab
Slope: 
40degrees
Trigger type: 
Skier
Aspect: 
North
Avalanche Width: 
100ft.
Terrain: 
Above Treeline
Elevation: 
10 600ft.
Avalanche Length: 
1 200ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

This wasn't a big deal, but it was a good reminder that there might be specific avy risks even when the general rating is "low."

Two other skiers and I summited Jobs Peak by skinning up around the western flank with the goal of skiing its north chute ("Jaws"). The snow showed no signs of instability on our climb up and there was little wind on the summit. The entrance to the chute, however, was fairly steep (maybe 40 degrees) and possibly wind loaded. So I did two ski cuts across the top, where the snow was deep and soft. On the second, I kicked off a small wind slab with a crown of maybe 6" on the skier's right. That slide, however, quickly propagated downhill and triggered a second windslab under the rocky ridge. The slide traveled about 1,200 vertical feet down the skier's right side of descent.

I wasn't caught at all in the slide and was able to watch it from a reasonably safe ridge on the skier's right. We skied the rest of the line without problem, exercising some terrain management. 

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Wind Speed: 
Light