Avalanche

Avalanche: Michigan City

EKSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
76 m
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Trigger Type
Natural
Vertical Fall
152 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
41 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Southeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2957 m

While touring in Grizzly Gulch to Twin Lakes Pass etc, observed numerous small new snow slides below gullies and probable cross-loaded wind slab releases with fracture lines. The north Patsy Marley face was corniced, visibly wind loaded, and thankfully unskiied except for skin track on small upper portion. On return, observed this more substantial crown line on a cross-loaded SE aspect directly above Michigan City mine. Did not see any associated ski tracks so I assume this was natural, likely in the last 24 hours. Despite the moderate forecast level on slopes SE-SW above 9500', this appeared to be a very active avalanche day. Skiing on low angle terrain was superb. On Sunday February 18th UAC forecasters went to look at this avalanche. Read the observation HERE.