Millville Peak, 2-11-05

                                                                              ( Images by Colby Bingham )

            Southeasterly winds picked up overnight, and maintained a 30 mph hourly average on Logan Peak for much of the day, 2-11-05. Throughout the region, a few inches of light density, partially recrystalized snow  was resting on scratchy old January crusts, and even though snowfall had yet to begin, conditions were ripe for significant drifting.  By midday, backcountry travelers in exposed terrain began to trigger shooting cracks, sure signs of  instability.

                                       By late afternoon, wind-blown slabs became thick enough to be sensitive to human weight.

                              This substantial wind-drift avalanche was intentionally triggered with a ski cut.

                                                                                               ...It is always good idea to test a slope before you commit to it.

                           Avalanches don't have to be huge to be dangerous.        In fact, many fatal avalanches are rather small.

            The 50' wide and 1' to 1.5' deep human triggered avalanche on a steep northeast facing slope at an elevation of around 9000' feet ran an estimated 1000 vertical feet off the north side of Millville Peak.