Avalanche

Avalanche: Bear Trap

Eddie SchoenSalt Lake
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Avalanche

Slab Width
30 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
15 cm
Start Zone Aspect
Northwest
Avalanche Problem
Wind Slab
Start Zone Elevation
2377 m

Steep convex test slope with leeward loading above gully feature, well below treeline but with active wind loading observed through aspen/birch groves. Touchy and propagated all the way across feature and past a subtle aspect change (extended to red arrow in photo, ~100' wide)

Observed instability limited to specific areas with lee & cross loading on steep, unsupported terrain. Areas with the wind deposition did seem to have quite a bit of energy and pop to them.