Avalanche: Meadow Fork

Observer Name
Brett Kobernik
Observation Date
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Avalanche Date
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Region
Skyline » Spring City Canyon » Meadow Fork
Location Name or Route
Above ATV trail near Windy Point
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
38°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
3'
Width
150'
Vertical
150'
Comments
I triggered this avalanche remotely from over 100 feet away while traveling on skis on a safe low angled ridgeline. I was walking along looking at north facing terrain when the slope made a loud "whoomp" and collapsed causing the avalanche. It was about 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide and ran about 150 feet.
The collapsing was the weak sugar snow near the ground from October. It is not uncommon to trigger avalanches from a distance when a "persistent weak layer" of sugary faceted snow is present in the snowpack.
Coordinates