Avalanche: Slide Canyon

Observer Name
Nalli
Observation Date
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » Slide Canyon
Location Name or Route
Slide Canyon Shot 7
Elevation
10,500'
Aspect
Southeast
Slope Angle
39°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Wet Loose
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Weak Layer
Wet grains
Depth
6"
Width
40'
Vertical
1,750'
Comments

As expected the rapid increase in temp was too much for many of the sun exposed slopes today. There was a widespread WL cycle throughout the Provo region today starting at about 11:00am at the mid elevation SE aspects and continuing later into the upper elevations. We saw wet activity on everything from due east to south. We were a little slower getting to our objective at the top of Slide Canyon than we would have liked and subsequently triggered this WL-ASu-R1-D2-O slide after my first three turns. The snow surface was firnspeigel so I didnt think I would get anything going until lower in the drainage. Once I saw my sluff gain mass I pulled up and let it go by. It slowly gained speed and entrained more snow, gouging in places, until it came to rest about 1700' below. Small slide on the scale of the drainage but definitely not one to get caught in. First pic is an overview taken later from the south fork road, second is from about half way down the slide, and third looking back up from near the toe.

Comments

Several other WL-N-D2's occurred today. None huge, but still noteable. Below pics, White Limbo in Bunnells at 10,700, SE, and Middle Finger adjacent to Sundance at 9800', E.

Comments

These last three are in Roberts Horn between 10,000' - 10,800', E aspects. Noticed several glide cracks today also.

Coordinates