Avalanche

Avalanche: Upper Collins area

C. AldenSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
3 m
Trigger Type
Skier
Slab Thickness
10 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northwest
Start Zone Elevation
2926 m

Observed 2 small soft slabs on a NW aspect near the Collins Lift line, failing on a density change in the new snow about 3-5 inches down. This top layer was more dense than snow from earlier in the day, consistent with the slight rise in temperature observed at the various stations in upper LCC around 1pm this afternoon.

Neither ran more than 20ft and from our observations, this instability was confined to open, homogenous slopes. A couple of quick hand shear tests also confirmed this density inversion in the top 3-6 inches of the new snow.