UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Big Willow

Observer Name
Craig Gordon
Observation Date
Monday, May 19, 2014
Avalanche Date
Monday, May 19, 2014
Region
Salt Lake » Big Willow
Location Name or Route
Big Willow Apron
Elevation
10,300'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Weak Layer
Ground Interface
Depth
6'
Width
300'
Vertical
1,000'
Comments

On my way home from the gym when I notice a very large slide in the Big Willow Aprons... I can't believe what I'm seeing and nearly wreck. Actually, I'm super jacked on caffeine and that might have added to the excitement... but none-the-less, this thing is huge and can be seen from the SL Valley. Looks like a large piece of granite peeled off the steep rock band above the snowfield and triggered a wet slab breaking to the ground. Reminds me of a similar event in May of 07 off Sugarloaf Peak.

Image below is from Google Earth for reference, not the slide itself.... more pics to follow.