Observer Name
Ryan Turville
Observation Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Region
Salt Lake » Lone Peak
Location Name or Route
Sawmill Trail
Elevation
10,100'
Aspect
Northwest
Depth
Unknown
Width
Unknown
Comments
The avalanche I observed was on a northern (northwestern) face of the Lone Peak range. The visually observed avalanche flowed a couple hundred feet down the opposite side of the valley and into trees. It continued to trigger more snow, flowed for over 20 seconds, and made the sound of a thunderclap. It was about 500 meters away from me.
I saw a days-old avalanche that crossed my intended path.
I heard multiple streams beneath the snowpack.
As I traveled the last 1000 meters to my turnaround, the snow would shift in slabs beneath my feet, but the slope was shallow and I traveled in the trees. The largest of these slabs extended out from me about 20 feet, the snowpack shifted perceptibly, and cracks were observable in the snowpack.
At 1700 (5pm) I observed snow slides on three slopes around or above me. Snow would also- in separate events- roll downhill and cause small slides.
I waited for sunset to descend.
The high temps made the snowpack very unstable.
Coordinates