Incident

Avalanche: Hells Canyon

Frank WaikartOgden
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Quick report

Slope Angle
38°

Avalanche

Slab Width
12 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Snowboarder
Vertical Fall
610 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
46 cm
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2591 m

This was one of two human triggered avalanches in Hells Canyon today right outside the Snowbasin Ski Area Boundary.

D-3 was snowboarder triggered but person unknown at this time. From the tracks it looks like they were caught and carried 100' vertical feet and luckily escaped.

Forecaster note: unfortunately, the party did not contact ski patrol, and a search resulted.

1. Always call in triggered avalanches, especially those that are close to resorts, even if no one is caught.

2. Searches put the rescuers at risk.

3. Even if you are just out of bounds, feet from a resort boundary and can see the resort, backcountry terrain is different and has no avalanche mitigation work.

Incident

Number Caught
1
Number Carried
1