Avalanche: Tony Grove-Blind Hollow Saddle 12/18/2009

Observer Name:

Toby Weed

Observation Date:

12/18/2009

Occurrence Date:

12/18/2009

Occurrence Time:

2:30pm

Region:

Tony Grove-Blind Hollow Saddle
Tony Grove
Logan River
Logan

Location

41° 53' 12.6348" N, 111° 38' 57.966" W

Avalanche Characteristics

Elevation:

8800'

Aspect:

North

Northeast

and steeper

Slope Angle:

Alpha Angle:

Trigger:

Skier

Trigger: additional info:

Unintentionally Triggered

Remotely Triggered

Avalanche Type:

Soft Slab

Weak Layer:

Facets

Depth (avg):

Depth Range:

20" to

Width:

400'

Width Range:

300' to

450'

Vertical:

250'

Vertical Range:

200' to

300'

Snow Profile

Snow Profile Comments:

Just a hasty profile....Many slopes like this still hanging in the balance across the region....This avalanche remote triggered from around 150 feet away on ridge..

General Comments

Video 1:

General Comments 2

Hers a look at the south flank. It pulled out the entire slope southward to the gully often used as an assent route to the lowest part of the saddle.

Video 2:

General Comments 3

Here's the crown on the north flank of the avalanche as seen from below....

General Comments 4

This is a look at the north side of the crown... A stout slab formed with last weekend's storm (12-13-09) right on top of very weak sugar-like faceted snow..... Obviously conditions are still quite sensitive and scary in the Logan Area Backcountry, especially on slopes like this; fairly steep, wind-loaded, north facing, and upper elevation....I'm glad we triggered this one from a distance....This could easily have been a killer...

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