Incident

Avalanche: Upper Weber Canyon

Bo TorreyUintas
View on map

Quick report

Slope Angle
39°

Avalanche

Slab Width
12 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
91 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
61 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northeast
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
3109 m

I unintentionally triggered a Persistent Slab avalanche on a steep north-facing slope. While descending a ridge between 2 chutes, I broke through the snow and punched my ski tips down into the layer of loose facets. This caused me to fall and instantly trigger the slab. I estimate the slab broke 2' deep and 40' wide. I was carried roughly 350' down the slope. I deployed my airbag and was on the surface when the debris came to rest. This avalanche occurred far down off the ridge in a part of the slope that is fairly sheltered from the wind and sun.

I'm still thinking through the incident and lessons to share but 2 critical errors that stand out to me are:

1. I thought that I could manage the terrain to avoid the avalanche problem.

2. I thought that the most likely place to trigger the avalanche would be high up on the slope and close to the ridge in one of the primary start zones.

Incident

Number Caught
1
Number Carried
1
Number Partly Buried
1