Observer Name
Anna K
Observation Date
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Avalanche Date
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Bear Trap
Location Name or Route
Bear Trap Fork, Big Cottonwood Canyon
Elevation
9,600'
Aspect
West
Slope Angle
35°
Trigger
Unknown
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
15"
Width
350'
Vertical
200'
Comments
Bear Trap glades - generally very safe but there is the open steep area above the aspen glades. This avalanche occurred right at the top of the glades where the slope steepens from the summit and the debris ran into the glades. Slide may have been triggered by skiers - it was hard to tell as the previous tracks were filled in. The wind was 35mph+ from the South and cross-loading the slope. Plenty of collapsing/cracking on the way up and snowing 1"/hour the whole time. Tough trail-breaking.
Coordinates