Saddle Peak Crown - 17 Feb 2010

[brandro87]

so even with all the new snow do you think a skier could have triggered the slope? or did it still need the large load from the cornice?

[sharaldson]

From the avalanche report 2010-02-18: "The trigger for this avalanche happened to be a tumbling cornice, but it didn't matter whether it was a cornice or a skier. The weight of the trigger was insignificant. What was important was finding the right place on the slope to initiate a fracture in the weak layer, and this spot was one of the several rock bands near the summit."