Avalanche

Avalanche: Lake Peak

Coyne/ Arro/ HartnettSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
27 m
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
152 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
46 cm
Start Zone Aspect
North
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Start Zone Elevation
3261 m

As the clouds parted from the passing storm, Wasatch skiers were treated to a day of bluebird, approx 20" of new snow, and some spectacular avalanche viewing in upper Little Cottonwood Canyon. We observed avalanches on west to north to east aspect on our approach to the Spire. Most ranging 60-100 ft wide and seems like they were failing in the new snow approx 1-2ft in depth. Dog dish, something to the north of west Scottie's, and scattered pockets here and there, indicating the recent storm put down some high PI rates in the drainage and clearly came with some asssociated wind to help build the slab. Most of note was the extensive natural Avalanche cycle that took place on the northern aspects of Lake Peak as seen in the photo. as Tremper would note, plenty of slope stability testers on higher peaks in the drainage. Saw one skier triggered avalanche from a distance off west facing Red Top approx 30ft wide, 1-2ft deep running 500ft vertical through rocks and trees. Such a stunner of a day in the mountains.