Observer Name
Bjorn Leines
Observation Date
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Sunset Peak
Location Name or Route
Sunset Peak
Elevation
10,500'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
5'
Width
500'
Comments
The avalanche crown fracture line was approximately 500 feet wide and was connected across rocky and tree'd terrain on this north face. The depth of the crown appeared to be 4 feet throughout with several thicker sections up to 6 feet in the heavier wind deposited zones. Judging off the new snow transported onto the deposition pile this slide could have occurred at the end of the storm cycle or early this morning. Wind scouring and areas of increased snow load were visible on the slope in the form of drifts, and ripples on the snow.
Also of note:
Two skiers traversed from nearby Rocky Point towards Sunset Peak ski cutting the slope for several hundred feet. They skied down approximately 150 feet away from the slide path on almost an identical aspect.
My fear is that since there are now tracks people will think the slope is safe, when clearly it is very high danger.
Coordinates