Avalanche

Avalanche: Patsy Marly

Sean BurkhartSalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
36°

Avalanche

Slab Width
30 m
Weak Layer
New Snow
Trigger Type
Snowboarder
Vertical Fall
76 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
38 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
East
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
3170 m

Riding the NE ridge of Patsey Marly. Observed wind loading and noticed some fat wind drifts dictating wind transport from the W/SW. Trenched a hearty turn approx. 4' from the edge of the ridge and the wind slab shattered from my heelside edge. No one else was in the area at the time. I'm not totally sure how far it ran. The majority of the slab seemed to slide almost the length of a football field and it is likely that some of the snow ran to the base of Patsey/Wolverine Cirque. I estimate the slope was around 36 degrees and did not want to venture out onto the slope to take better pictures or have a better look because there is still a persistent slab danger.