Observer Name
Mark B.
Observation Date
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Avalanche Date
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Willows » West Willow
Location Name or Route
West Willow Ridge
Elevation
9,200'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Density Change
Depth
12"
Width
30'
Vertical
60'
Comments
Remotely trigered two soft slabs while walking up West Willow Ridge. Both slides appeared to be at the new/old snow interface; but did not investigate. The first slide was accompanied with a very large womph. The entire slope appeared to settle. The actual slide was pretty small.
FORECASTER NOTE: This sounds suspiciously like the early January facets are the culprit here. It has the right aspect and elevation to have preserved weak snow just under the new snow. The "whoomph" also OFTEN accompanies the collapse of a persistent faceted weak layer. Kobernik
Coordinates