Avalanche

Avalanche: Uintas

Craig GordonUintas
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Quick report

Slope Angle
39°

Avalanche

Slab Width
91 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
381 m
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
122 cm
Trigger Detail
Cornice Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
East
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
3170 m

I heard the upper reaches of M&M Drainage in Weber Canyon had avalanched substantially during the mid December storm and today I had time to scope it out. M&M drainage is a perfect, natural, leeward fetch, which loads during storms with big westerly winds. While not particularly uniform, most of the terrain had some degree of weak, old, early season snow. The avalanches I cataloged, were surprisingly wide and connected... a couple hundred feet in width.... breaking 3'-4' deep, failing on weak snow near the ground, and running great distances.