Get Your Ticket to the 32nd Annual Backcountry Benefit on September 11th! Support Forecasting, Awareness, and Education

Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Observation Date
Friday, January 8, 2016
Avalanche Date
Friday, January 8, 2016
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Weber Canyon
Elevation
10,500'
Aspect
Northwest
Slope Angle
36°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
14"
Width
30'
Vertical
100'
Comments

I was up in the Uintas today in the Weber Basin drainage where I triggered this slide at 10500 on a NW aspect. There was 25 cm's of new medium density snow. When I was skiing just below a roll over midf-slope I felt it was time to depart. Just after skiing off the main line to the skiers right to a less dangerous location I looked over my shoulder and noticed the crown and snow running. Upon investigation I was surprised to notice the snow did not slide on the new snow/old snow interface. Instead, a 5 cm layer just below the new snow capped on top with a light melt-freeze (which the new snow is sitting on top) was sitting on top of another melt-freeze crust layer (~1 cm thick) with near surface facets on top. This is the layer that failed. Looking at the first pic you see my first tracks lookers left. Notice just before I kicked out, I skied over a rock. Since this slide ran on a persistent weak layer, although I am doubtful, I was wondering if this is where I triggered the slide.

Forecaster Comment: Michael, thank you for posting this information and all your top notch observations.