Avalanche

Avalanche: Park City Ridgeline

Chris WSalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
35°

Avalanche

Slab Width
53 m
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
61 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
30 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2896 m

Little pocket of 30 plus degree slope under the cliffs in Big O propagated and slid into the trees. It's unclear whether this was a natural or wildlife triggered slide, either way it is the largest I have ever seen in these trees... Scary stuff

At 12" to 18" deep and 150 to 200ft wide this would have caused serious issues for anybody caught in its path. It slid 100 plus feet into the trees below, with it piling up between 3 and 5 feet on the trees in its path. Under the soft slab there was over a foot of facets that went straight to the ground, I'd bet this will be a repeater slide throughout the season. Just goes to show that even smaller, seemingly protected slopes will be sketchy for the entire season if they are over 30 degrees.