Avalanche

Avalanche: Silver Fork

Bill NalliSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
9 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
6 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
36 cm
Trigger Detail
Remotely Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2499 m

Saw this avalanche that looked to have been remotely triggered by the party in front of us as they walked by on the normal skin track leading into the bottom of Silver Fork canyon. Fits the pattern of most of this cycle of mid elevation slopes facing N thur E that had the weakest old surface snow. Slab was 4F to F hard and failed on SH and NSF that formed during the Nov dry spell.

Of note is how this little slide propagated around a rock outcrop into the next slope to the left. Indicates the high propagation propensity of this weak layer. I get the sense that there's much more to come from this poor structure with each new load. Especially with the new strong hard slab resting in the starting zones of all the bigger exposed paths.