Avalanche

Avalanche: Snowbasin Backcountry

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Avalanche

Slab Width
53 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
610 m
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
107 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2743 m

Skier triggered avalanche in Hell's Canyon. Skier made two turns into the slope. On second turn slab was triggered. The skier was near the crown line, he acted quickly and was able to get off the slab and land on the bed surface. Large R3D3 avalanche 150' wide 3' deep traveling 2000 feet into a terrain trap. Nearly an unsurvivable avalanche if caught due to the steepness, length and the numerous trees and rocks in the path. Debris pile up to 25' deep and near 75 yards long. Skier did report the avalanche to ski patrol and reported that no one else was known to be caught, making it much easier to manage the scene.