Avalanche: West Desolation Ridge

Observer Name
Watson, Ritterson, Jiricko & Ambler
Observation Date
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Avalanche Date
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » West Desolation Ridge
Location Name or Route
West Desolation (toe)
Elevation
8,900'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
35°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2.5'
Width
175'
Vertical
Unknown
Comments

Another remote trigger today from adjacent low angle terrain. We were skinning up through low angle terrain over 300 feet away from the nearest flank of this avalanche. We felt large collapses lower in the drainage and one more at our last switchback, moving away from this slope. Near the crest of the ridge a member of our party spotted this slide. Upon closer inspection the adjacent slope spiderwebbed but did not release despite digital mapping showing it to be more 35* terrain. These large cracks were more like 170' from our skinner. What, to me, is particularly interesting here is that the skiers right flank ran all the way to the avalanche which released yesterday https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/101652This slope, like the left firewater slide, runs into trees.

Coordinates