Avalanche: Big Baldy 4/3/2010

Observer Name:

Robert Al-Chokhachy

Observation Date:

04/04/2010

Occurrence Date:

04/03/2010

Occurrence Time:

Afternoon

Region:

Logan
Providence Canyon
Big Baldy

Location

41° 40' 40.0224" N, 111° 45' 9.3096" W

Avalanche Characteristics

Elevation:

8800'

Aspect:

North

Northwest

Slope Angle:

Trigger:

Skier

Trigger: additional info:

Intentionally Triggered

Avalanche Type:

Hard Slab

Weak Layer:

Facets

Depth (avg):

18"

Depth Range:

18" to

20"

Width:

100'

Vertical:

2000'

Snow Profile

Snow Profile Comments:

Ski conditions were excellent on other north aspects near this (dogleg) yesterday, with little evidence of instability. Snow was moderately dense due to high winds.

Seems like low-snow areas may be suspect due to the substantial depth hoar/instabilities observed earlier in the year throughout much of N. Utah.

Some collapsing at highest elevations on ridge, but no other evidence of instability aside from previous experience in this area.

General Comments

Big Baldy in Bear River range. Main slide path perpendicular to road (comes out at picnic ground 1/2 way to quarry.

Sunny weather with below freezing temps. Winds from west.

Pseudo hard slab avalanche. Slide triggered on North/Northeast aspects. Elevation 9,200 feet. 35-40 degrees, 18-20 " deep, 100 feet wide that ran 2,220 feet. Weak layer was apparently due to the low snow pack. This region of Providence canyon has had substantially lower snowfall, and has finally had enough snow to trigger a slide on the thin-snowpack ground hoar that troubled most locations for earlier parts of the year. We also triggered a second slide adjacent to this, with similar aspects, etc that did not run as far due to dense forest cover, but ran on similar layer (2-4" below dirt layer). My partner triggered the slide with a ski cut as pillows were quite obvious. I had skied this area last weekend with old snow and was surprised that it was stil "punchy" from low snow totals.

Rating was probably spot on. This area has missed most of range, but pockets of instability.

Javascript is required to view this map.