Avalanche

Avalanche: Corner Chute

Lou GilbertSalt Lake
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Quick report

Slope Angle
33°

Avalanche

Slab Width
12 m
Weak Layer
Depth Hoar
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
61 m
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Slab Thickness
61 cm
Trigger Detail
Intentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
Northwest
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
3018 m

We inspected Corner Chute (just down the Emma Ridge, west of Davenport Hill) from the saddle. It looked like wind had deposited snow on the skier's right. So, we wanted to investigate skier's left along a small spine of trees that was less steep. I skied across the top of the spine and did a ski cut. The snow initially separated from the base of a small rock band and connected across about 30 feet to a tree, leaving a crown varying between one and two feet. The slab quickly fell apart as it went through the trees, and the debris came to rest about 200 feet below me. The slope is NNW facing and about 30-35 degrees (on the spine). The whole ski cut was very controlled, and went as planned. No one was carried or hurt.