Avalanche: Neffs 4/7/2010

Observer Name: 
Brian
Observation Date: 
04/07/2010
Occurrence Date: 
04/07/2010
Occurrence Time: 
Unknown
Region: 
Salt Lake
Neffs
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Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
7500'
and below
Aspect: 
Northeast
Trigger: 
Unknown
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Depth (avg): 
2'
Width: 
250'
Vertical: 
Unknown
General Comments

A large soft slab had broken out, 99% sure it was skier triggered by the skin track that I followed.  It broke out on a rollover that had been cross loaded, and broke on a variation of just below the dirt layer, to just at a layer of 5mm graupel.  The crown was on average 2 feet tall, the slide was approximately 250 feet wide, and broke between 300-400 vertical feet, with the debris running further.  This was a NNE aspect, with a slope of 40 degrees.

I triggered many wind slabs on the ascent, all triggered on purpose.  The majority of these ran on lower angle slopes on a 5mm grain size graupel. 

There was much cross loading on rollovers so I would say the predominant wind was directly easterly at this elevation. 

I was surprised about how active these wind slabs were, and how big of an avalanche this was (through sparse/moderate density trees).  With that being said, I believe that it has begun to stabilize, but triggering may be possible tomorrow


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