Avalanche: East Mineral 4/2/2010

Observer Name: 
Kobernik
Observation Date: 
04/02/2010
Occurrence Date: 
04/02/2010
Occurrence Time: 
12:00pm
Region: 
East Mineral
Mineral Fork
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake
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Location

40° 36' 29.5884" N, 111° 40' 7.7376" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
10300'
Aspect: 
North
Slope Angle: 
40
Trigger: 
Skier
Trigger: additional info: 
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Weak Layer: 
Density Change
Depth (avg): 
20"
Width: 
50'
Vertical: 
400'
General Comments

I unintentionally, but not surprisingly, triggered a soft slab in the north chute of East Mineral.  It broke about 10 feet above me on the steep roll over where it always breaks.  I saw it crack and easily skied off the slab avoiding what could've been a ride down the chute.  The weakness was within the newer snow about a few cm above the dirt layer.  This was identified prior to the avalanche.  It is interesting that this weakness is still somewhat sensitive 3 days after its formation.  It's my opinion that you need a slope approaching 40 degrees to get these types of slides to release.

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IMG_1366a.JPG
General Comments 2

Here's a totally different type of instability that I observed.

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