Observer Name
Staples, Gordon
Observation Date
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Pioneer Peak » Martha Bowl
Location Name or Route
Martha Bowl
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
Northwest
Trigger
Snowboarder
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Density Change
Depth
6"
Width
60'
Vertical
200'
Comments
Snowboard triggered slide occurred yesterday just before Craig got to this area with a class. This spot in Martha Bowl in the rocks is like a catcher's mitt for any wind blown snow.
This slab was resting on low density, broken snow flakes. The debris wasn't deep enough to bury a person. This snowboarder was not caught and you can see their tracks exiting high lookers left of the slide then traversing back.
Fairly straight-forward and predictable hazard, but even a small slab in steep, sustained terrain could knock you off your feet and take you for an unplanned ride down the slope. Not a big slide, but this piece of snow was definitely packing some heat as observed by the surprising amount of debris and vertical fall.
Coordinates