Observer Name
Tappin Gorman/Randy Matthews
Observation Date
Friday, January 3, 2020
Avalanche Date
Friday, January 3, 2020
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Strawberry reservoir/sheep creek
Elevation
9,500'
Aspect
South
Trigger
Snowmobiler
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Depth
5'
Width
800'
Vertical
500'
Carried
4
Comments
FORECASTER UPDATE-
I talked with Tappin about the slide and he related.... "I was zig-zapping up the slope and about 10 or 20 feet from the ridge when I saw it sluff. I pulled my avy airbag, pegged the throttle, and hoped I'd make the ridge. The whole time I was hoping I wouldn't bury my buddies at the bottom of the slope. I made it to the ridge and saw everyone had outrun the slide I triggered."
Tappin also related he had never been to this zone before, they read the avy forecast for the day, and they chose the terrain because of its south aspect. The avalanche danger was rated as Considerable in upper elevation wind drifted terrain that day.
Stoked everyone is ok!
Coordinates