Observer Name
Craig Gordon
Observation Date
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Avalanche Date
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Pioneer Bowl
Location Name or Route
Pioneer Bowl/Dog Lake
Elevation
9,600'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Natural
Trigger: additional info
Cornice Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2'
Width
200'
Vertical
350'
Comments
Spinning laps near V-Tree and White Cliffs Bowl and noticed this natural pocket on my exit. I suspect this piece of snow was cornice triggered on 2/12. As you might've guessed... snowpack in steep, rocky terrain in this area is extremely fragile. Though the January drought layer is the culprit, I think many slopes with these characteristics avalanched significantly during the New Year's cycle, leaving a shallow, weak pack in its wake.
Of note... this area was also the scene of a very tragic avalanche accident.
Coordinates
