Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 41°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 8 m
- Weak Layer
- Density Change
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 152 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 30 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Intentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- West
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3018 m
Guess my partner and I drew the unlucky card; set off the only reported avalanche in the Wasatch during the last few days of an all-aspect, all-elevation Low danger cycle. With little width in the tightly treed entrance of Ivory Chute for a proper ski cut, I did a hop turn to put pressure on the new pow layer. Aimed to see if I could get the new snow to sluff before making turns. Was surprised when a crack opened at my feet, widened, spread the width of the narrow chute, and proceeded to run full track. (Partner caught a photo of it breaking at my feet.) The remaining bed surface near the top of the chute was a firm crust ~1.5 inches deep, sugary beneath to the ground. 30 feet further down the line, the bed surface was the more expected, fully bomber snowpack as is widespread now. Good reminder that Low danger doesn't equal no danger.