Avalanche

Avalanche: Monitors

M. DawsonSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
38 m
Trigger Type
Skier
Slab Thickness
15 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Start Zone Elevation
3048 m

While performing a ski cut on a lower angle slope to the south (towards chicken out ridge), cracks propagated towards a steeper slope leading into the southern flank of W. Monitor. The avalanche comprised only new snow and had no cohesion with the old snow that formed the bed layer. The start zone at the crown of the avalanche was less than 30 degrees, revealing the sensitivity of the interface between the old snow and the new. The avalanche gained momentum and speed once it rolled into the steeper slope angle of the main bowl and ran full track.