Observer Name
Greg Gavin
Observation Date
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Avalanche Date
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill Creek Canyon » Mill A » Butler Fork » Gobblers » Davis Gulch
Location Name or Route
Davis Gulch
Elevation
9,700'
Aspect
Northwest
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
4.5'
Width
150'
Vertical
1,000'
Comments
Witnessed an older crown on the skiers left of Davis Gulch. The crown was recently blown in by Friday's storm snow, and was remarked as having been seen on Thursday of this past week. The Wed/Thurs 1/24>1/25 wind event likely the culprit. I find this observation especially interesting as most of the avalanche action has been on Northeast to East facing terrain, but this slide was on a West to Northwest slide with severe consequence.
This slide to me indicates that our problems are not only on the reported NE and E facing slides but also on these newly formed westerly and northwesterly wind loaded slopes. In my mind the danger rose is now back up to considerable up in the alpine on all slopes NE, N, and NW.
Coordinates