Avalanche

Avalanche: Patsy Marly

Nick BurrSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
18 m
Weak Layer
Wet grains
Trigger Type
Natural
Avalanche Type
Wet Loose
Slab Thickness
15 cm
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Start Zone Elevation
2987 m

Wow. proper Wet slide on a North aspect at almost 10k! Did a beacon search, there was no one in it. (please always search a debris pile if it's safe) and called it into Alta Patrol, who actually told me I should have called Alta Central dispatch but they handled it anyway. Thanks! -good to know.

Epicly strong Greenhousing (low clouds reflecting solar energy (LIKE A GREENHOUSE!) absolutely blasting the snowpack with heat on loop) from maybe 1-3pm or so was the culprit.

The crust which was the bed surface only had a superficial refreeze and then the heat kicked in and it all of a sudden was running water downhill, even on Norths! At probably 3 or so water was running down tracks on the Patsy headwall. This avalanche likely happened around 1:40pm??.