Big Slab avalanche on Mt. Rainier

[Dan_Miller]

Did anyone else happen to notice this in today's (04/07/09) NW Avalanche Detailed Daily Avalanche Snow Pack Synopsis:

 

"Evidence of a few very large slabs that released over the

weekend have been seen on Mt Rainier as well as in the

Tatoosh Range. The slide on Mt Rainer was reported to

have released at about 6500 feet on a steep ESE aspect

with crown height ranging from 10 to 30 feet running a

long distance!"

 

Woah! I'm not sure I've ever heard about, let alone seen a crown face 30 feet high. Just how large was the debris pile?

[DPS]

I climbed Rainier this weekend via the Gib Ledges. Everything up high seemed pretty stable. I guess down lower where it was warmer was less so. I wonder if this was a climax avalanche.