Incident

Avalanche: Hogum

Archibald/ WalkerSalt Lake
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Observation photo 1

Quick report

Slope Angle
39°

Avalanche

Slab Width
30 m
Weak Layer
Graupel
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
9 m
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
51 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
East
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
2896 m

A party of two skiers was beginning to approach a 50' tall moraine with wind slab/ sastrugi surface characteristics. The party was well spaced and suspicious of the slope. Skier 1 approached the slope and it immediately failed. The skier was carried six feet. He was knocked off of his feet and a ski pole was swallowed up at the hard slab/ bed surface interface. Skier two was out of reach of the slide. This event caused the party to change course and exit Hogum Fork rather that temp fate any further. This was successful. No injuries were sustained.

Incident

Number Caught
1
Number Carried
1