Avalanche

Avalanche: Jaws

Luke Gangi-WellmanSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
30 m
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Trigger Type
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
15 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
3109 m

I triggered an avalanche on the entrance to Jaws when I stepped on a wind loaded NE facing soft slab on the entry shoulder. 6" deep, the crown propagated down to the cliff ~100 feet below. I was above the release on an opposing (NW) aspect and was neither caught nor carried. If the slab had released while I was in the chute, there's a high likelihood I could have been carried and/or partially buried in there.