Avalanche
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Southeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2591 m
Provo mountains are spooky.
We heard and felt numerous booming collapses on south and north aspects. The first time we thought it was bombing at Sundance it was so loud. Then as we skinned up a steep ridgeline on the south facing side of it at about 8800ft we got a collapse that really shook us. We both felt it in our stomachs despite being on the ridge. Seconds later we heard the mountain roaring below us. We couldn't see the avalanche due to clouds and poor visibility. Scary.
Earlier we dug on a north facing aspect around 8000ft and got ECTP20 at the ground on the PWL. Snow was 140cm deep and the column popped out with a lot of energy.
The PWL is still there. All aspects, mid and upper elevation. We've dug a number of pits over the past week and every time we still find the facets. They're healing. Most of the time they're wet. But they're still there and still reactive.
Anything with a shallow snowpack is super suspect, and everywhere we've been in the Provo mountains qualifies as shallow right now.
Given the number of collapses we experienced I'd rate the danger at considerable on all aspects, including south.