Avy @ Crystal Mt

www.kirotv.com/news/22704435/detail.html

Where exactly did the slide occur?

Hmm, there was a fellow who posted under Planned Trips, stated he was going to be lapping Sourdough Gap during the weekend... Wonder if there is a corelation ???

Your heard at KIRO first; skiing out of bounds is dangerous!  I suppose if the victim didn't know that, he shouldn't have been there...skiing alone...on a weekend when instability around the Crystal area had been specifically reported by NWAC...

I wonder what they mean by "experienced skier"?  He can ski any in bounds terrain?  Or he has snow safety training and touring experience?

Anyone get the name of the skier?

During lunch I watched a couple solo skiers descend  Speed Control, which looked wind affected from my vantage point.  One solo skier skied a line above a slab that had released the day before.   He looked a little spooked once he got to the slab.   I assume he booted up from the Silver Basin.  From what I could see he was carrying no pack, no shovel, and who knows if he was carrying an avalanche transceiver.  This is an all too familiar senario amongst Crystal Mountain area skiers venturing into the backcountry.

With all the storms lately coming in with high E-SE winds, significant hoar frost, and warm daytime temps it is an unusually sensitive March snowpack for sure.   Be careful out there, bring the right tools with you (especially the grey matter), and take the time to evaluate the hazards before jumping in!