Observer Name
The Snowy Torrents
Observation Date
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Avalanche Date
Sunday, May 17, 1970
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Stairs Gulch
Location Name or Route
Stairs Gulch
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
Northwest
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Weak Layer
Wet grains
Depth
Unknown
Width
150'
Vertical
3,500'
Caught
3
Carried
3
Comments
“The Snowy Torrents are like the Deep Sea: They seldom return their victims alive”
Narrative provided by The Snowy Torrents, courtesy of the American Avalanche Association. More information here: https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/store
Williams, Knox (1975). The Snowy Torrents 1967-1971: Avalanche Accidents in the United States. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Avalanche File
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 1970.05.17 Stairs Page 1 .pdf | 323.12 KB |
| 1970.05.17 Stairs Page 2.pdf | 134.6 KB |
Coordinates
