Avalanche

Avalanche: Pink Pine

Joshua WSalt Lake
View on map

Quick report

Slope Angle
40°

Avalanche

Slab Width
24 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
91 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
38 cm
Trigger Detail
Cornice Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
2804 m

Started up the White Pine fork a little before eleven o'clock and headed over to pink pine. Lower elevations had calm to light winds with a rain crust two to three inches below the surface that disappeared around 8700'. Light to Moderate winds began around this same elevation with obvious wind loading and cornice development on north to northeastern slopes. These cornices were sensitive especially at and above 9000'. Avalanche occurred at 12:50 Pm on a Northeastern slope (35 Degrees) it was 80' wide and ran I assume about 350'. slope angle was on average 40 degrees varying within that range across the crown and ridge line. Sky condition was overcast with no precipitation with moderate West Southwest winds blowing. Triggered by a fairly large cornice. The slab consisted of about six inches of freshly transported snow with increased densities the deeper down you went. It was hard to tell what the slab failed on exactly. The Density of the slab and the bed surface were very similar to me.