Observer Name
Craig Gordon
Observation Date
Monday, February 25, 2019
Avalanche Date
Monday, February 25, 2019
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Millie Back Bowls
Location Name or Route
Milly Backbowl/Old Reliable Apron
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
37°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Density Change
Depth
14"
Width
100'
Vertical
200'
Comments
Before teaching Brighton Backcountry 101 this afternoon, I decided to do a bit of class prep and look around to see what's going on in the Brighton Basin. Fresh snow and sustained southwest winds steered me towards a cross-loaded slope to confirm suspicions. Standing on a lower angle portion of the slope (island of safety) I took off my skins, shifted my weight slightly, slid a ski tip into a fat portion of the drift in front of me and was able to trigger this fresh drift that was surprisingly tender and connected. Avy failed on a preserved layer of near surface facets.
Coordinates