Avalanche: Alta Periphery 3/22/2011

Observer Name: 
Hardesty
Observation Date: 
03/22/2011
Occurrence Date: 
03/22/2011
Occurrence Time: 
Unknown
Region: 
Alta Periphery
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake
Location Name: 
Rocky Point to Honeycomb along the upper reaches of BCC/LCC
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Location

40° 35' 7.0008" N, 111° 36' 22.1724" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
10400'
Aspect: 
Northeast
East
Southeast
Slope Angle: 
38
Trigger: 
Skier
Trigger: additional info: 
Intentionally Triggered
Cornice Triggered
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Weak Layer: 
Density Change
Depth (avg): 
10"
Width: 
200'
Vertical: 
600'
General Comments

 Very touchy new wind slabs along the ridgelines.  Most 6-10" deep with one propagating 200' wide.  All soft and manageable.  Needed to be in wind affected terrain with an easterly component.  A few shallow naturals observed that likely occurred mid-morning.  Fits the trend of the cycle - naturals, then touchy to human provocation, then stubborn, then gone.  This, of course - without a persistent weak layer (PWL).

Photo below illustrates the natural activity in the Wolverine Cirque

natural.jpg
General Comments 2

 Thought maybe a natural had occurred off the ridgeline here - could that be a fracture line?  Look a little closer - 

porc.jpg
General Comments 3

 Cornices remain very large.  In the 'deep slab' category - unmanageable. Sometimes it's hard to tell how close you are to the ridgeline - if you don't know - don't go.  Avoid going over with the cornice - after it breaks out behind you.  Walk in the mountains long enough and its inevitable - just like they say about Grand Canyon river guides - two types of boaters - those that have flipped, those that are gonna. Give them a wide berth.  

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