Avalanche: Toms Hill 1/20/2012

Observer Name: 
Tom Thorne
Observation Date: 
01/20/2012
Occurrence Date: 
01/20/2012
Occurrence Time: 
12:30pm
Region: 
Toms Hill
Mill D North
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake
Location Name: 
ridge between Reynold's and Tom's Hill
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Location

40° 39' 41.8644" N, 111° 38' 18.9708" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
9000'
Aspect: 
Northeast
Slope Angle: 
42
Trigger: 
Skier
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Weak Layer: 
Facets
Depth (avg): 
13"
Width: 
250'
Vertical: 
100'
General Comments

From Mill D north TH, I took the ~NW gully that ascends toward Reynold's Peak. Where new snow overlies old, collapsing was reliable every 5th step of so, and particularly on the shoulder of Reynold's where old snow was deepest (and faceted top to bottom). Continuing back toward Tom's Hill, I triggered this remotely, at a point 15-20 feet back from the ridge. Aspect is about NNE, slide consisting of new snow, I estimate the total width at about 250 ft., length well into the trees about 100 ft. down, but it's possible some of this continued out to the flats (I didn't check). Crown depth ranged from 12 to perhaps 20 inches, slope angle ranged from 35 to 43 degrees.

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General Comments 2

Predominantly, this was a new snow slab, but in spots took some of the old with it (photo 2).

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General Comments 3
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General Comments 4

More pictures are available if interested. Not sure what kind of conditions warrant an extreme rating, but this has to be pretty darned close. The snow is very, very sensitive.

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