Avalanche

Avalanche: Big Cottonwood Canyon

UAC StaffSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
91 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
122 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
3200 m
  • Clayton's- 10,400'-east northeast aspect 3'-4' deep hard slab failed on buried facets sympathetic avalanche to control work at Brighton
  • Wolverine Cirque- 10.400'-east northeast aspect 3'-4' deep hard slab failed on buried facets

10,420'- east northeast aspect 3'-4' deep hard slab failed on buried facets remotely to skiers on the ridge

Sympathetic avalanches can be defined as avalanches that occur as a result of another avalanche on an adjacent slope. Remote avalanches can be defined as avalanches that occur away from the point they are triggered. The common theme is that regardless of what you call it; an avalanche that occurs as a result of distant trigger is a sign of an unstable snowpack and the best travel advice is to avoid traveling on or underneath slopes steeper than 30°.