Avalanche: Days Fork 4/26/2011

Observer Name: 
Kikkert, Manos
Observation Date: 
04/26/2011
Occurrence Date: 
04/26/2011
Occurrence Time: 
Morning
Region: 
Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Days Fork
Location Name: 
Cardiff/Days
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Location

40° 36' 0.3816" N, 111° 38' 35.9664" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
10200'
Aspect: 
North
Northeast
Northwest
and steeper
Slope Angle: 
38
Trigger: 
Skier
Trigger: additional info: 
Intentionally Triggered
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Weak Layer: 
Graupel
General Comments

 We triggered several soft slabs in the AM in Upper Days and Holy Toledo.  Early in the AM, there was a density inversion and the top 3-4 inches of snow was super sensitive, with instant gratification from ski cuts and cornice drops.  The shallow slabs were only pulling out 10-20' wide, with no consequences.  As the snow piled up (about 6 inches between 6 am and noon) and the wind continued, they started to propagate out quite a bit larger, with one unintentionally triggered slide, and were running down to the melt/freeze crust, averaging about 1 foot deep.  Weak layer was graupel above the crust.  At this point we decided it was time to exit.  Coming out the Flagstaff ridge, we noticed another similar sized slide (approximately 1 foot deep) that I think was skier triggered, but could have naturaled, as well also watched a small natural run on south facing near Holy Toledo.  The largest slide was in Upper Days, which is described with the photo below.

Good part is these should be settling out by now and Wed morning should be nice.

DSC00056.JPG
General Comments 2

 Photo is of the largest slide triggered, in Upper Days.  Approximately 100' wide, averaging about 1' deep, and running approx. 400 vertical.  Unintentionally triggered.  I believe it was sympathetic to a smaller slide released just to the east upon entry to the line skied.  It ran after the skier was 1/3 of the way down the run.    

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