Avalanche: Lacawaxan

Observer Name
Sharon Clouser
Observation Date
Friday, April 17, 2020
Avalanche Date
Friday, April 17, 2020
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Lacawaxan
Location Name or Route
Lackawaxen
Elevation
10,500'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Snowboarder
Depth
7"
Width
20'
Comments
Because there was so much activity yesterday, as well as the Considerable danger rating today, we kind of expected it might run. We observed that the top of the entrance had some wind loading and made a plan to go around the wind pocket to the left. We then discussed our islands of safety. Snowboarder 1 dropped in, did a toeside turn, then a heelside turn, felt it go and shot left to her island of safety. I then watched it slowly run down the entire slope. She had made it to her island of safety before it fully propagated. It seemed to break under the wind pocket where the slope angle increased. Even at the toe, the debris pile was not enough to bury a person.