Avalanche

Avalanche: Tuscarora

WirtzSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
30 m
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
183 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
46 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Southeast
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Start Zone Elevation
3231 m

Observed from the base of Rocky Point. First skier center punch S/SE face of Mt. Tuscora, and 2nd skier was on the ridge just north of where he dropped in. When 2nd skier stepped away from observing first skier the whole slope propagated at his feet. He was not caught and apparently first skier was out of the way at the bottom (not visible from our vantage point).

Photo: Glew

Observed from a distance evidence of another slide in S/SW facing bowl from Wolverine peak towards the bottom of Catherine's area. Slide was skier triggered soft slab started in rocky section at top and ran several hundred vertical feet. Skier was able to either avoid the slide or self arrest as we saw tracks hiking out near the top.