Avalanche: Whitney Basin 1/23/2011

Observer Name: 
Gordon
Observation Date: 
01/26/2011
Occurrence Date: 
01/23/2011
Occurrence Time: 
12:30pm
Region: 
Uintas
Whitney Basin
Location Name: 
Aagard's Cabin
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Location

40° 52' 19.974" N, 110° 58' 55.812" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
9900'
Aspect: 
North
Slope Angle: 
Unknown
Trigger: 
Snowmobiler
Trigger: additional info: 
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type: 
Hard Slab
Weak Layer: 
Surface Hoar
Depth (avg): 
5.5'
Width: 
60'
Vertical: 
500'
People Involved
Caught: 
2
Carried: 
1
Partly Buried: 
1
General Comments

A group of 3 snowmobillers were riding in the area near Aagard's cabin between Yamaha Hill and Aagard's Hill. The area is near a treeline on a sidehill with several washes running down the hill. Rider #1 crossed the hill near the bottom right above the treeline. As #2 started to cross near #1's tracks #3 passed and climbed up the hill. As #3 tried to turn around on the hill it started sliding. #3 was able to throttle up and jumped up hill from the first slide only to break off a second. The slide made it down into the trees just at the same time as #2 did. #2 did not get buried or know that the hill had slid until afterwords. #3 was swept down hill with the slide but was able to swim and popped out near the top of the snow. #3 was able to get out of the snow on his own power. He was near his snowmobile which was partially buried.

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