Avalanche on Colchuck NBC last Saturday

[tcam83]

I was making the slog up Colchuck glacier Saturday morning (5/16) and noticed a group of climbers near the first steep step on the north buttress couloir. It was around 9:30am and the sun was shining on the route. About an hour or so later, I couldn't see the route anymore, but watched in dread as a large looking avalanche flushed out the couloir. My partner and I froze and watched/listened for signs of life. We were eventually relieved to hear calm sounding voices coming from the route.

 

We moved on to the summit and at some point talked with a climber who just soloed the NBC. I asked him about the avalanche and he said he may have accidentally started it, but watched the climbers below him arrest without getting blown off the route. At the summit of Colchuck, I kept looking down at the face, but never saw the group of climbers come up. I assumed they bailed.

 

I was just wondering if anybody had some info on the incident? Sounds like everyone is ok, but it definitely could have been bad.