Avalanche: Soapstone Pass 2/4/2010

Sat, 02/06/2010 - 7:25pm
Submitted by Grant
Observer Name: 
Helgeson / Harris
Observation Date: 
02/06/2010
Occurrence Date: 
02/04/2010
Occurrence Time: 
Unknown
Region: 
Soapstone Pass
Uintas

Location

40° 31' 51.1788" N, 111° 0' 9.0108" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
9500'
Elevation Range Minimum: 
8000'
Aspect: 
North
Northeast
East
Slope Angle: 
39
Trigger: 
Unknown
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Weak Layer: 
Facets
Depth (avg): 
2.5'
Width: 
Unknown
Width Range: 
25' to
100'
Vertical: 
500'
Snow Profile
Snow Profile Comments: 

We identified a recent natural cycle in the cliff bands east of Soapstone pass.  These avalanches are likely a week old at this point, although we did see one that looked more recent.  The failure was the NSF layer just below the 012310 storm snow.  These slopes have likely slid previously this winter, and the avalanches were not gouging down into the facets at the ground.

General Comments

We were able to replicate this cycle by cutting off a large cornice which fell onto an East facing slope.  The cornice initiated a s

Looking down ski.jpg
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