Avalanche: 1/22/2012

Observer Name:

Gordon/Meisenheimer

Observation Date:

01/22/2012

Occurrence Date:

01/22/2012

Occurrence Time:

1:00pm

Region:

Uintas
Mill Hollow

Location Name:

Little West Fork Ridge

Location

40° 23' 38.94" N, 111° 11' 0.7044" W

Avalanche Characteristics

Elevation:

10400'

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Slope Angle:

Trigger:

Snowmobiler

Trigger: additional info:

Unintentionally Triggered

Avalanche Type:

Hard Slab

Weak Layer:

Depth Hoar

Depth (avg):

unknown

Width:

300'

Vertical:

250'

General Comments

There was no shortage of natural slides down low, but as we gained elevation the slab is stronger and needs a trigger. No shortage of those today. Our sleds got stuck in a wallowfest of deep snow and depth hoar. Once we readjusted our back braces and got unstuck, we retraced our tracks and saw this freshly triggered slide.

Video 1:

General Comments 2

Same crew most likely triggered this slide which dumped into a gullied terrain trap. Fortunately the rider came out unscathed. Notice big avy in the background.... same aspect, slope angle, and close to the same elevation. The biggest clue to avalanches is.... avalanches!

General Comments 3

This slide was remotely triggered from a road cut at the bottom of the slope. Again.... close call but all were OK.

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