Avalanche

Avalanche: Snowbasin Backcountry

Kevin SOgden
View on map

Quick report

Slope Angle
35°

Avalanche

Weak Layer
Density Change
Vertical Fall
213 m
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Trigger Detail
Repeater
Start Zone Aspect
Southeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2377 m

While descending one of my favorite side country runs adjacent to the Hells Canyon area I was surprised to find a considerable debris field buried under a 12 to 16 inch layer of new snow. At the time it was snowing lightly with flat light visibility so I did not notice the debris field where the run starts at the top. The debris field appeared to be about 50 plus yards across and the toe spanned about 75 yards of lower angle slope towards the bottom. Adjacent slopes my have released and added snow to the pile as well. Oddly enough the debris was not frozen solid underneath the new snow and thank goodness skied well. This avalanche path takes the snow leftish and into a small gully and again I was surprised to find this gully less like a gully today and more like a road with a level, although still uneven buried debris, single fall line surface that snaked through the bushy trees for about 100 yards as it tapered down narrower in width. This is a mid to lower elevation slope and saw very wet snow, if not rain, on 3 days ago on Monday and Tuesday. It took alot of snow to fill that gully I wonder if more of these are lurking out there.