Avalanche

Avalanche: Spring City Canyon

Kobernik - KendallSkyline
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Avalanche

Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Trigger Detail
Remotely Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
3018 m

We were ascending with skis along a ridge on Dec 6th. We felt a substantial collapse of the snowpack. We looked over the ridge down onto the steeper slope below but could not see anything. Today, Dec 9th I was able to view the ridge from a different vantage point and confirmed we indeed triggered something. Depth, width and vertical distance are speculative. However, knowing the weak sugar snow is present at this location and experiencing the large "Whoomp", it's safe to say that the avalanche broke into the weak sugar snow near the base of the snowpack. You can see our ski climbing track up on the safety of the ridge in the photo below.