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Avalanche: Toots to Boot

Observer Name
P Diegel
Observation Date
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Alexander Basin » Toots to Boot
Location Name or Route
Toots to Boot via Bowman trees
Elevation
9,000'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
34°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
8"
Width
80'
Vertical
700'
Comments

Cross loaded heavily sculpted slope- entered from a blown off side ridge ~ 80 ft below the ridge line, broke above the skier on the 2nd or 3rd turn. The skier was able to self arrest quickly on the bed surface. The slide had enough force & volume that failure to arrest quickly would have likely resulted in a full length ride without serious obstacles but debris was at least 3 or 4 feet deep and the slide move quite fast - certainly capable of injuring or burying someone. Unusual spot to see a slab form due to brief strong E - SE wind. Intentionally triggered another soft slab with a ski cut later in the day, 1,000 ft below the Gobbler's ridgeline, NW facing, steep rollover into a gully terrain trap, small but enough to catch and carry a skier. Changed plans based on the first slide - treated the rest of the day like a Considerable danger day on leeward slopes with significant fetch.