Avalanche

Avalanche: Blue Ice

Peter DonnerSalt Lake
View on map

Avalanche

Slab Width
91 m
Weak Layer
Ground Interface
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
533 m
Avalanche Type
Glide
Slab Thickness
305 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Gliding Snow
Start Zone Elevation
3170 m

Blue Ice glided today (Weds 4/7) around 1:30pm between my first run on Main Gobblers at 1pm when the avalanche had not occurred and 2pm on my second when it had. Dimensions are approximate based on Google Earth. Looks like the toe is at about 8,700 elevation which puts the length at 1,700 vertical. Photo is from the Gobblers/Mill A ridge, 5 miles away. Crown is distinctly visible from this distance, entire snowpack gone, depth is at least 5 feet maybe 10.