Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 37°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Weak Layer
- Density Change
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 6 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 25 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Intentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Southeast
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2987 m
Numerous small pockets were triggered along the standard Flagstaff uptrack. Much more sensitive than we originally expected. The weak layer was lower density snow just above the old snow surface (sun crust) that got buried by slightly higher density wind-blown storm snow. Pic 1 was the first small pocket just above the Flag summer road that stopped after moving only 10'. #2 is a larger pocket that UDOT forecaster Dan Costaschuk triggered while ascending.
These next two were triggered along the descent. We decided to exit back down the same way we ascended. All the steep terrain along the Emma Ridge was fat and loaded and the best safe route out was simply going out the way we came up. Retreat.
The further up we traveled the more wind affected the storm slab became. This pic is a hand shear that failed upon isolation.