Avalanche

Avalanche: Flanagans

Tyson BradleySalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
45°

Avalanche

Slab Width
24 m
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
91 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
15 cm
Trigger Detail
Intentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
3048 m

Strong SE winds and moderately heavy snowfall created top-loaded slab on N-facing Flanagans entrances from East Bowl of SF. Reading this, and having seen an AN sluff spill off the cliffs atop the run, we were concerned. I approached the edge, grabbed a tree. Next step forward, crack shot out 50 feet, 6-8 inches deep from my ski tips. Also propagated behind me. Surface sluffing then occured about 20-30 feet below ridge and ran ~300 before eating itself up.

Later, around 2:30 pm, as we ascended Main Days, I had a collapse. I was about 100' short of the NE ridge of Main Days. When I heard the "whoompf," I knew it was time to bail, so we did.