Avalanche: Dry Creek 12/26/2009

Observer Name: 
Kobe/Archibald/Clayton
Observation Date: 
12/26/2009
Occurrence Date: 
12/26/2009
Occurrence Time: 
3:00pm
Region: 
Dry Creek
Box Elder
Provo
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Location

40° 29' 35.1816" N, 111° 42' 58.5936" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
9700'
Aspect: 
Southwest
West
and steeper
Slope Angle: 
34
Alpha Angle: 
31
Trigger: 
Skier
Trigger: additional info: 
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type: 
Hard Slab
Weak Layer: 
Facets
Depth (avg): 
2'
Depth Range: 
6" to
3'
Width: 
150'
Vertical: 
500'
People Involved
Caught: 
1
Carried: 
1
Accident & Rescue Info
Terrain Photos: 
Box2.jpg
Weather & Avalanche History: 

The day was clear and sunny. The party did not witness any recent avalanches on similar aspects.

General Comments

Hard slab (up to refrigerator sized blocks) at three p.m. on WSW aspect approx 9700' elevation. Hard slab was 100' wide. Up to 150' at its widest point. Slide traveled about 500' being slowed down by erosion control dozer line as it descended. Alpha angle was 31. Crown was up to 3' at its deepest. Bed surface was on the ground. Instability was near ground facets.

No collapsing until slide occurred.

Snow surface was variable.
Slab skier triggered. The skier who triggered the slab fell down and was then struck by a fairly soft washing machine sized block. The skier was near the top of the slide and was uninjured. No burial, no injuries sustained. The party was well spaced and only one skier was involved in the accident. The avalanche occurred while we were traversing off of the ridge heading toward the town of Alpine.

The skiers were from out of town but one had been to the area a few times before in past years. They noted that there was very little if

creed clayton's photos 024.JPG
General Comments 2

Looking down the avalanche toward the toe.

creed clayton's photos 027.JPG
General Comments 3

Looking back up the avalanche from the toe.  The party chose to stick to lower angled terrain on the remainder of their descent....

creed clayton's photos 028.JPG
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