Incident

Avalanche: All Areas

UAC StaffSalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
38°

Avalanche

Slab Width
30 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
91 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
46 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2195 m

This was a series of avalanche that are all noted as occurring around a melt-freeze crust. This crust could have small grained facets above it. Reports from the Salt Lake and Provo Regions

April 7-10, 1998

  • Red Baldy- 10,500'-west- 18" deep x 100' wide x 150' vertical- Skier wandered onto steeper slope and triggered avalanche failing on melt-freeze crust. Stopped when it hit lower angle slope
  • Chablis- 8,700'- northeast- 12"-16" deep x 50' wide- zipper crust with new and wind blow snow on top.
  • Boulder Basin- 10,500'-north-northeast- 12" stepping down to 20" deep x 150' wide- second skier triggered avalanche failing on facets above melt-freeze crust
  • Mineral Basin- 10,500'-west- 12"-18" deep x 400' wide x 1000'- stepped failing on top of above melt-freeze crust "tricky, stubborn"
  • Thunder Bowl- 10,700'-north- 2' deep x 80' wide x 300' vertical- skier rode for 100', avalanche broke on slope 10' above skier

Incident

Number Caught
1
Number Carried
1