Avalanche: Elk Point

Observer Name
Ian
Observation Date
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Avalanche Date
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » Timpanogos » Elk Point
Location Name or Route
Aspen Grove
Elevation
7,400'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Unknown
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Depth
6"
Width
200'
Comments
Skinned up north / northeast facing slope underneath Elk Point cliffs, about 1/8 mile west of Aspen Grove parking lot. Stopped ascent about 200 feet west of the lowest part of the cliff band (just under 7400 feet according to the topo). Sun was just peeking out of the clouds as I approached my high point around 2:30 PM. As I was getting ready to ski down I heard low rumbling and looked up to see slow moving soft (and somewhat wet) slab approaching me. Due to my location on a small spine (if you can call it that), the slide didn't affect my specific spot but did grab my pack, one of my skins, and a pole and pulled them down the hill. My pack slid about 100 feet downhill and stopped at a stump along with a ~3 foot deposition pile. I skied down on bed surface to find my skin and pole about 15 feet beneath me. As I skied down I also noticed the slide was quite wide, I'd say at least 200 feet. It was also about 6" in most places (basically the depth of the most recent storm snow down to the bed surface that it fell upon). Parts of the slide ran for 200 vertical feet or so. The slide didn't have a lot of energy but it was able to connect to adjacent pockets of snow between the trees (trees were spaced in general maybe 15-30 feet from each other on this aspect).
There was no whoomphing or noticeable cracking on the way up but the slope I estimate was 30-35 degrees (no official reading taken). As I was breaking trail on the way up I did notice that the storm snow was slipping out on the bed surface beneath my downhill ski's skin track. As this has happened to me in the past without consequence I didn't think too much of it but in hindsight this was indicative of instability on this aspect.
Sorry no photos or videos. If you go to the Aspen Grove parking lot you can see my skinner from there and with binoculars some of the slide.
Coordinates