Avalanche

Avalanche: Catherines

Hardesty and WagnerSalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
35°

Avalanche

Slab Width
18 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
137 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
25 cm
Trigger Detail
Intentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
North
Start Zone Elevation
2896 m

Route was Alta to Dry Fork, Rocky Point, Tuscarora, Wolverine, Patsy Marley and out Grizzly Gulch.

Exceedingly active for ski cut

More ominous was a fracture line that looked like the top of a valentine. It failed, fractured, but didn't move. Northeast facing Patsy ridge into terrain above Twin Lakes. Slope angle perhaps just at or under 35 degrees. No buckling of stauchwall or flank fractures noticed, but the yawning crown that looked as deep as a crevasse. Likely to near the ground. Repeater territory.

Consider the commentary on triggering the new snow slides. Time to center-punch? Maybe not.