Observer Name
Pearson
Observation Date
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Porter Fork » Main Porter
Location Name or Route
West Porter Pass
Elevation
9,600'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2'
Width
300'
Comments
Saw this avalanche around 1:30 pm after skinning up west porter to the pass. The avalanche was likely caused by snow failing off of trees and cliffs, heating up from the sun, above the crown and then propagating around the entire face. Crown estimated between 1-3 feet deep and broke to ground. Width was 300+ feet and ran about 300-400 ft to the flats. This slide is scary since the debris piled up 10+ feet in some areas where ski tracks frequently run. Good reminder about always being aware of overhead danger. Picture shows a set of tracks from earlier buried by about 10-15 ft.
If you zoom in on the second photo you can see this broke down to the rock bed surface. On the far left side of the crown it seems to be about 5 feet deep. It broke 250-300' wide and ran 1500' down the gully.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The amount of West wind definitely played into the mechanics of this slide. Westward winds continue tonight 20-25 MPH. So increasing N-SE faces will continue to load.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,500'
Comments
This was a D2 slide. I really wish I was able to get a video of the entire thing but I was too busy making sure I was at a safe distance. Because the main slide in picture 2 released a sympathetic avalanche to the western ridge. It ran equally as long but it was not as wide, same width.
My partner and I were pretty certain we heard another slide occur which released the big one we witnessed. If it wasn't another slide - it was a huge natural we observed. We did not have the intent on going over to that far side to ride, instead ride back into West Porter Fork.
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Coordinates