Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 37°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 8 m
- Weak Layer
- Ground Interface
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 30 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 36 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Intentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2896 m
Ski cut across the top of Murdock peak triggered a soft slab about five feet below the ski cut. Wind slab felt really punchy and the slide pulled out a relatively soft hollow wind slab to exposed rock beneath. The slide never really gained much momentum after it broke away from the ridge and sluffed out as it entered the pine trees below. The slide conditions were consistent with the UAC advisory. After skiing yesterday and today in the PC area it appeared that there were two types of wind slabs on the ridges that we observed. The super set up solid ones that felt like concrete and then on the other hand a few punchy wind slabs. Sorry no photo, didn't have a great location that we felt good about getting a shot.
The spot where this slide occurred is the only spot in Todd's besides the far-east side of the bowl that hasn't slid.
The three slides were:
- Dec 22
- http://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanches/22555
- The google map spot is wrong as well as description - should be slightly looker's right of the Jan 19 avi and the failure reported by me was incorrect - should be facets instead of graupal.
- Jan 6
- Jan 19
I found it encouraging that yesterday's slide, which is the small pie that has not slid yet, did not break into the facets that slides 1 and 2 failed on. That's good news.
Just a laymen's observation.
Cheers,
Paul
Paul Daugherty photo, comments -