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Avalanche: Dry Fork

Observer Name
via text to UAC staff
Observation Date
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Avalanche Date
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Region
Provo » American Fork » Dry Fork
Location Name or Route
Sunset Peak
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
Southwest
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Snowmobiler
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2'
Width
125'
Vertical
300'
Caught
1
Buried - Partly
1
Comments
A group of friends sent me these pictures today riding on the south faces of sunset peak in American fork canyon triggered this slide at the top of the hill. South facing slope. Rider one was climbing and triggered the slide he was able to turn out of the slide path. second rider was near the bottom and got partially buried. No injuries. Odd to see this slide on the south face.
Update 2:03pm: Two riders were riding in American Fork in Dry Fork Canyon. They had already climbed up this hill 3 to 4 times before the avalalnche occured. Rider 1 watched from below as rider 2 climbed up the steep chute. As rider 2 was on thier way back down the slope he triggered the avalanche. Rider 1 was unsure if rider 2 knew he had triggered the avalalnche and so rider 1 used his radio to aleart him of the avalanlche and to pull his airbag. Rider 2 was able to get out of the way of the avalalnche. By this time rider 1tried to start his machine and get out of the way, but it was too late. Rider 1 pulled his airbag right as the avalalnche hit him. Rider 1 is unsure how far he traveled in the avalanlche but he could feel the airbag lifting him to the surface. Rider 1 became fully submerged in the avalanche and re-surfaced on top of the debris when the avalanche came to rest. We are very happy to report no one had any major injuries in this accident.
One rider went up to look at the avalalcnhe and said was side of the crown was 3' deep and the other side was 2' deep. We are unsure on how wide this avalanche was.
Comments
This is the top of the steep southwest facing hill they were climbing moments before the avalanche was triggered.
Video
Coordinates