Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 9 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Vertical Fall
- 457 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 30 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Cornice Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2987 m
From top of Yellowjacket looking over into Alexander Basin into Depth Hoar Bowl. Saw fresh debris at the bottom and went to the starting zone. It looks like it was triggered from a cornice fall which initially triggered a shallow wind slab. It was not very wide (30-50' at most) but ran full track. Much of Depth Hoar Bowl slid on 12/23 and the current snowpack is thin and faceted. Looking at the bed surface there are some rocks and bushes visible so likely the slide ran on the weak, faceted snow. Given that much of the starting zone had filled in, am guessing the weak snow couldn't hold much of a load and the slide occurred earlier during the wind event.
The Gobblers ridgeline above Alexander Basin is a cornice factory - some of the best in the Wasatch! We were able to kick several fresh cornices along the ridgeline that only generated sluffing within the storm snow.
I tried to get better photos, but this was about the best I could do. Mostly highlighting the starting zone as the toe of the debris was out of view.
SS-NC-R2-D2-I