Avalanche: South Square Chutes

Observer Name
Canyons Snow Safety
Observation Date
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Squaretop » South Square Chutes
Location Name or Route
Square Top
Elevation
9,600'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
34°
Trigger
Unknown
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
3'
Width
200'
Vertical
700'
Comments

This large slide released about 3 pm Tuesday 1/24, after the slope had been skied many times. This is a popular slope because it is considered to be relatively safe, with a slope angle on the top half of about 34 degrees. The trigger was assumed to be a couple of skiers seen making their way down the ridge after the slide. Note that the crown cuts 4 or 5 previous tracks, and the debris buried more than 10 tracks in the runout. The raised tracks in the bed surface are old tracks put in before the storm.

Coordinates