Avalanche

Avalanche: Brighton Perimeter

BSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
61 m
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
107 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
46 cm
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
3139 m

Witnessed this Natural in motion while ascending ridge on left flank of slide. W-WNW Winds were Strong Gusting Intense at the time of the Avalanche and it was snowing S3. Slope was getting Crossloaded with it's left flank/ridge serving as a great wind fence allowing for good loading in the upper starting zone as well as down at least 125 feet from the highest starting area. Multiple connected pockets pulled out on left flank while descending, and the Debris ran to the transition at least 350 feet down the path. Bed surface was the old Wind Board that was likely the new snow/old snow interface from 20230125 before we began to get snow earlier in the week. Average Crown Depth observed was 18 inches, yet due to poor visibility it was difficult to estimate/see the Crown at it's highest elevation. SS-N-D2.

Unfortunately the visibility was extremely poor and the only way to even see the crowns were to travel onto the path, yet still you could only see clearly for 30 to 40 feet uphill at the time. Sorry no pictures.

No one was near the runout and or track. Brighton Snow Safety was immediately informed reporting activity with no one involved.