Avalanche: Millicent Back Bowl 3/6/2010

Observer Name: 
Hardesty and Jones
Observation Date: 
03/06/2010
Occurrence Date: 
03/06/2010
Occurrence Time: 
Unknown
Region: 
Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Twin Lakes area
Millicent Back Bowl
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Location

40° 35' 32.5428" N, 111° 36' 17.2296" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
9700'
and above
Aspect: 
North
Northeast
East
Northwest
Trigger: 
Skier
Trigger: additional info: 
Unintentionally Triggered
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Weak Layer: 
Density Change
Depth (avg): 
8"
Depth Range: 
6" to
16"
Width: 
200'
Vertical: 
300'
General Comments

Punishing southeasterly winds led to extensive wind damage in the open exposed terrain in the upper Cottonwoods, particularly in the Wolverine/Alta/Brighton backcountry.  Numerous naturals up to 12" this morning with at least 3 other shallowish (6-12") new wind slabs triggered by backcountry skiers.  Many of these wind pockets were well off the upper ridgelines.  Riding conditions excellent where sheltered........other terrain sun crusted, others was 60mph to a dead stop with the new stiff wind whales.  See scalloping below.

field 001.jpg
General Comments 2

This slide triggered above Twin Lakes Pass - toward the Patsy Marley side of the ridgeline.  40' wide, 6-15" deep.  Leigh Jones examining the fx line. Northeast facing roughly 10,000'.

field 003.jpg
General Comments 3

Well off the ridgelines a skier ahead of us remotely triggered this little wind pocket to skier's right.  Not common for us to have strong southeasterly winds.  Savvy folks look for unusual loading patterns, particularly off the ridgelines.

field 011.jpg
General Comments 4

Another skier triggered wind slab not far from the Brighton/Millicent boundary.  Skier made a few turns and saw the slope cracking around him - and was able to get off the slab and let it run.  Looked 8-10" deep but perhaps 175' wide, running on a northwest facing slope at approx. 9700'.  Cracking was everywhere.  Partner got a large collapse on a wind pocket.  Textbook. 

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