Unfall

Avalanche: South Squaretop

Canyons Snow SafetySalt Lake
Auf der Karte ansehen

Quick report

Slope Angle
39°

Avalanche

Slab Width
24 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
46 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
61 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
East
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2743 m

Close call yesterday (Feb. 9th) outside of Canyons Resort boundary. Investigated an unreported avalanche with significant debris. Although slope is relatively small it ends in a terrain trap with many trees. Upon investigation looked as if a solo skier was traversing underneath a steep slope when he triggered a large slab that ran on the Jan. 10th rain crust. There was one track in and one track out so it look as if skier miraculously was able to ski off of the slab. If he had been caught a full burial would have been likely. Of note, the skier triggered avalanche looks to be responsible for a sympathetic release around the corner off of the same ridge. The sympathetic avalanche was just as large and also ran on the rain crust on a more northeast aspect. A large area of undisturbed snow in between the two avalanches. More proof that the weak layer, slab, and bed surface (rain crust) is continuous and well connected. 1st picture below- slab that skier managed to ski off of 2nd picture- profile above crown of storm snow, facets, rain crust, facets

Incident

Number Caught
1