UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Days Draw

Observer Name
Noah Howell & UAC Staff
Observation Date
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Avalanche Date
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Days Draw
Location Name or Route
Days Draw
Elevation
9,900'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
39°
Trigger
Skier
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2'
Width
70'
Comments
My partner skied into the slope slowly to avoid visible rocks. The soft slab broke to the ground a few feet above him, but moved around him and didn't carry him down slope. The avalanche picked up momentum and powered through some trees and over some cliffs.
Forecaster note: Much of Days Draw avalanched sometime in late November. We do not have a record of it in our avalanche database, but an avalanche crown(s) were observed in Days Draw on Nov 28th. It likely slid several days before this. UAC staff visited the site on Sunday, December 23. The crown averaged 12-24", failing on a layer of very weak, early-season facets. There were several tracks throughout Days Draw, including adjacent to the slope that avalanched. Extended column tests on adjacent slopes were ECTX (no fracture), but results were ECTP23 at the crown of the avalanche, likely indicating the rider had just hit the sensitive "sweet spot" that could avalanche. HS-ASu-R2-D2-O
Video
Coordinates