Observer Name
Hardesty, Chenoweth, Falley
Observation Date
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Region
Ogden » Snowbasin Backcountry
Location Name or Route
Snowbasin periphery
Elevation
7,200'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
42°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
16"
Width
40'
Vertical
60'
Comments
Steep rollover at 7200' in uncompacted terrain. Cracking noted in similar terrain. This slab had no wind effect and just enough cohesion to propagate 40' wide and 16" deep. Weakness was 1mm facets sitting just above an inch thick temperature crust.
Total snowpack there was 2-2.5'.
Very poor snowpack structure - 12" new above 4" very weak cohesionless squares above a 1" thick temp crust - as well described by Evelyn here the day before. Any significant storm at this elevation would produce a significant avalanche cycle. Unfortunately, the weather forecast looks a bit grim.
