Avalanche

Avalanche: East Kessler

UAC ObserverSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
46 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
533 m
Slab Thickness
61 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
3109 m

Skiers unintentionally triggered a slab avalanche from above the cliffs on Catcher's Mitt, which is on the east side of Kessler Peak. No one was caught in the avalanche. It broke at someone's skis. The slab broke out wider as it descended below cliffs and ran to neat the bottom of the drainage. It appeared to be running on a layer of faceted snow beneath the new snow.