Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 30 m
- Trigger Type
- Hiker
- Vertical Fall
- 381 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 152 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northwest
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2560 m
Narrative below provided by The Snowy Torrents, courtesy of the American Avalanche Association. For further reference information see Appendix E. More information here: https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/store
Williams, Knox; Logan, Spencer, Walker, Emma, and Reardon, Blase (2017). The Snowy Torrents 1996-2004: Avalanche Accidents in the United States. American Avalanche Association
Incident
- Number Caught
- 1
- Number Killed
- 1
- Number Carried
- 1
- Number Fully Buried
- 1
Notes from WBR Archives:
This was a victim recovery in Little Willow. Three hikers were hiking up the Dolphin. One turned around and the the other 2 continued up. 20 minutes after they separated Justin triggered an avalanche. Aaron and Steve hiked back down and searched the slope finding nothing. They continued back to the parking lot and not finding Justin at the car alerted Search and Rescue.
This group did not have rescue gear and a Snowbird Ski Patrol dog (Jessee) team located Justin's body. According to the noted the dog found the hat in four minutes and Justin a minute after.