Avalanche at Bear Paw!

[Happy Bunny]

I wanted to put up some pics of the Avalanche from April 4th at Bear Paw! My husband was the "human factor" on this hill. Everyone made it out ok! Wayne was able to ride out diagonally through the side of it and the 2 riders sitting at the bottom (Bob and Vertie), got out of the way in time. It was BIG!

 

[SLED2SHRED]

That looks BIG & GNARLY

 

[texasranger556]

wow the top of that break looks about 10 feet tall! glad everyone made it out OK

 

[Happy Bunny]

It looked like 4 seperate layers! Very sobering!

 

[justadude]

Holy ****!!! Not good kids not good at all!!! Glad to see everyone made it out ok!!!

 

[ArcticBoy]

No kidding holy crapp. Everyone be careful!!

 

[Flakey]

WOW, thats an eye opener. Makes you wonder about stability of the early season layers. Freeky.

 

[Kordero]

hey Happy Bunny,

Was in the area that day but must have left before the avalanche happened. What time did that happen? Was your husband sidehilling below the rocks or climbing the hill to left of the rocks?

thanks, Kordero

 

[M8newbie]

IS that on the back side of the widdowmaker where john when over the top earlier this year, and was air lifted out?

 

[slednw]

I haven't seen the slide because I was at the shoot out but know the area well and would say it is the face on the back side of the widow to the left. That is a big face glad to see everyone made it out o.k.!!!!!

 

[sledRevy]

I wanted to put up some pics of the Avalanche from April 4th at Bear Paw! My husband was the "human factor" on this hill. Everyone made it out ok! Wayne was able to ride out diagonally through the side of it and the 2 riders sitting at the bottom (Bob and Vertie), got out of the way in time. It was BIG!

Big omg sorry but that slab thats hanging looks 15+ thick and we need more info or someone could die

first ? how thick is that slab?

 

[sledRevy]

yeh guy if you triggered that slide....... Bear paw should be on alert your sled lines are on the bottom half of the slide and the killer bulk is almost 1000 feet up? we need more info asap!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kordero]

I would say what ripped off was all of the March snow. Hard to know just what caused the avalanche. Of course it sounds like the sledder triggered it but I think the main cause of the avalanche was the sun. We are definitely at the point in the season where we either get surface slides of heavy mashed potatoes or big climax type avalanches.

I guess what I'm saying is there's more to the story than a couple pictures. Another good question is were there any other avalanches small or big that were reported anywhere in the cascades on Saturday?

 

[SLED2SHRED]

I seen a little movement on Saturday. There could be some majors on the steeps.

 

[cristfrcarr]

There was another one caused the same day by a snowboarder up Bear Paw directly on the backside of widowmaker. It was a small, wind loaded pocket about 1 1/2 feet deep. He was fine and rode it out. The slide in the photo I believe was in the last bowl before you get to church.

 

[nwRMKman]

This looks like the slide path, as you can see its a north/northwest facing slope. It is also an area that has alot of wind loading. That face doesnt see a whole lot of traffic throughout the year either. Most people just pass by that area on the way to the back bowl or around the loop.

 

[SLED2SHRED]

This piece will probably go tomarrow so caution this place.

 

[H20SKE]

Glad no one was caught in it!! Thanks for posting the picture!!

Ya think it might slide later---with a crack like that in it--No brainer there. That is a north facing hill--not seeing much sun. That ---as stated---was caused by a rider!!

We saw a few small avy's at Baker saturday--but nothing showing any signs of a slab like that moving--glad there was not one. We had a group ready for the word of one though--with all the riders and crazy riding going on. It was a great weekend--as no one was lost and conditions were great!!

H20SKE...

 

[ArcticBoy]

If it happened there it's probably lurking all over. We were playing a little lower elev and it was starting to move on the steeper stuff.

 

[Kordero]

Still interested in getting more First Hand information. It sounds like there were at least 2 other people in the group.

What time did the slide take place?

Was the sledder sidehilling or climbing up and to the left?

Where was the sledder when it ripped?

Did the fracture begin at the top of the ridge where the crown is? Or, did it happen in multiple locations working it's way up to where the crown is?

Did the debris stop in the flat area or continue down the hill?