Avalanche

Avalanche: Main Days

DindySalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
91 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
51 cm
Trigger Detail
Cornice Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
3170 m

Dropped a refrigerator sized cornice on main days. A windslab avalanche propagated in the new snow and slid for a moment. The rest of the slope 300' to the west then broke to a faceted weak layer near the ground. 1-3' ,deeper in the wind pillows. Reminded me of Titus' essay in alta magic. Silence and gratitude in the face of destruction.

On our descent we got the east facing section to avalanche remotely from about 20' away on a sub ridge. This caught us by surprise and was 150' and 1-5' deep. Exact spot as 12/17.

Once down at the bottom it was evident that many more slides had been triggered on each subsequent roll over. A peaceful walk up through the old trees of hideaway was grounding and Emma 1 skiied okay.

P1: cornice triggered avalanche, photo taken moments before remote avalanche on the east facing

2 crown

3trigger

4bad photo of 2nd avy

5 down below, slide continued to make more slides