Avalanche: Catherines area 11/13/2011

Observer Name: 
Robbins
Observation Date: 
11/13/2011
Occurrence Date: 
11/13/2011
Occurrence Time: 
Unknown
Region: 
Salt Lake
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Alta Ski Area
Catherines area
Location Name: 
N facing Point Supreme in Albion Basin
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Location

40° 34' 43.0644" N, 111° 35' 54.672" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
10300'
Aspect: 
North
and steeper
Slope Angle: 
35
Trigger: 
Unknown
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Weak Layer: 
Facets Below Crust
Depth (avg): 
10"
Width: 
Unknown
Vertical: 
200'
General Comments

On the popular skin track (and summer trail) to Catherine's Pass, we noticed that a soft slab had recently been triggered from higher up on Point Supreme.  With so many people out today, this could have easily been much worse, as debris ran nearly to the skin track that probably 50 people walked on today.  Area was a convex terrain feature, and the varying crown height indicated wind loading.  This is just one of many avalanches reported from Albion Basin today.

The crown is seen under the rock band.  It also extended out of our sight, way up into the looker's right of this photo.  The debris ran down through trees, as shown in photo 2.

Alta Ski Lifts is not open for the season yet.

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