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Avalanche: Crescent Lake-Steep Hollow Ridge 1/6/2010

Observer Name:

Toby Weed

Observation Date:

01/06/2010

Occurrence Date:

01/06/2010

Occurrence Time:

1:00pm

Region:

Crescent Lake-Steep Hollow Ridge
Crescent Lake Canyon
Logan River
Logan

Location

41° 58' 40.3284" N, 111° 38' 18.3552" W

Avalanche Characteristics

Elevation:

8900'

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Slope Angle:

Trigger:

Skier

Trigger: additional info:

Intentionally Triggered

Unintentionally Triggered

Cornice Triggered

Avalanche Type:

Hard Slab

Weak Layer:

Facets

Depth (avg):

18"

Depth Range:

15" to

Width:

90'

Width Range:

80' to

125'

Vertical:

Unknown

Snow Profile

Snow Profile Comments:

The slab failed on a weak layer consisting of small-grained faceted snow that was near the snow surface during the extended late December high pressure system.... Slab was 1F to 4F hard....

General Comments

I triggered this sizable avalanche by knocking a small cornice onto the slope while holding onto the strong green branches of a ridge-top spruce....

Video 1:

General Comments 2

And here I am documenting the event on my cell phone camera....

General Comments 3

I wasn't really surprised that I triggered an avalanche on this suspect wind loaded slope....But I was a bit surprised by both the size of the avalanche and the sensitivity and propagation of the slab.

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