Avalanche: Gunsight

Observer Name
steven sadler
Observation Date
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Avalanche Date
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area » Gunsight
Location Name or Route
Gunsight
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Skier
Depth
6"
Width
100'
Comments
Wind was blowing and there was obvious signs of wind drifted snow on the ridgeline (new cornices). Also on the skin up there were areas that the snow was starting to slab. Snow at the kick turns was cracking and breaking in chunks, other areas snow was soft and unbonded. at top of gunsight snow did not feel wind effected. Stabs with my pole felt consistent down to the crust. We felt there might be some small pockets that would break and planned on staying on the skiers left where the terrain was lower angle. I dropped in first and the first 5 turns were deep and bottomless, then everything started cracking around me. I was able to ski out of it to the right but that snow started cracking and moving as well but I was moving fast enough that it wasn't a problem and I was able to get up on a ridge to a safe spot. The slab broke the entire width of the run and ran for a good distance. Debris pile wasn't deep and it ran slow enough I doubt it would've buried a person but definitely had the power to carry someone. my ski partner got some pictures of the crown and will probably be posting an observation as well
Coordinates