Avalanche

Avalanche: Superior

UAC ObserverSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Weak Layer
New Snow
Trigger Type
Natural
Avalanche Type
Wet Loose
Start Zone Aspect
South
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Start Zone Elevation
3048 m

Watched a close call occur today from the snowbird parking lot.

Around 1 pm a skier, following tracks from an earlier rider, entered a rocky choke towards the bottom of the s face of mt superior. This choke ends in a cliff, icefall, or steep snow depending on the current snowpack. The choke proved difficult for the skier as they took almost 30 minutes to slide slip down into the lower apron. No more than ten minutes after the rider was able to exit we watched a large wet slide release and funnel into the choke. Debris flowed for over a minute and deposited a large pile at the bottom of the exit.

Pictures show the choke with the skier in it prior to the slide and after the slide with starting and ending point indicated.