Avalanche

Avalanche: Two Dogs

Bill NalliSalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
39°

Avalanche

Slab Width
9 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
91 m
Avalanche Type
Dry Loose
Slab Thickness
25 cm
Trigger Detail
Intentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Start Zone Elevation
3109 m

I triggered this small Dry Loose snow avalanche mid starting zone in Two Dogs with a ski cut. It ran surprisingly far and stopped half way down the slope where the slope angle decreases. Failure was at a density change 15cm below the surface within the new snow. Pretty benign but it's good to remember that even a small DL during thin early season conditions could have nasty consequences if you were to get pinballed through rocks or brush.

We saw another similar slide further East along the Emma ridge that was natural originating in the very steep rocky headwall. Again mostly benign but it piled up a couple feet deep at a mid-slope tree island. Pic 3

Northeast thru north winds blew intermittently all day and created shallow sensitive soft slabs on both sides of the Emma ridge. Slabbiness was confined to near the ridges and didn't extend very far downslope. Pic 4