Avalanche

Avalanche: Gobblers Knob

Tremper / Hill / MeisenheimerSalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
39°

Avalanche

Slab Width
1067 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
533 m
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
183 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
3109 m

This was one of the biggest avalanches I can remember on this slope, but I've only been around for 16 years in the backcountry. Bruce Tremper said today he's never seen it run that big in his 30-year career. I think this would classify as R4D4. The deepest part of the avalanche was 16 feet deep; however, the average depth across the crown line was closer to 6-8 feet deep. Impressive.

2,971 feet wide is the approximate distance of the crown line. The avalanche descended almost 1,800 vertical feet and ran a distance of 5,224 feet to where the debris stopped. We measured the alpha angle standing on the debris at 17.2°.