Avalanche: Cowley Canyon

Observer Name
weed
Observation Date
Monday, March 20, 2023
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Region
Logan » Right Hand Fork » Cowley Canyon
Location Name or Route
RHF, Cowley Canyon (FR 047), west side 1/4 to 1/2 mile south of Camp Lomia
Elevation
6,000'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Weak Layer
Ground Interface
Depth
3'
Width
350'
Vertical
700'
Comments
There were several very large natural wet avalanches in Cowley Canyon not far above the gate at Camp Lomia. One crossed the popular forest road (FR 047), which is popular with cross country skiers, snow shoers, and mt bikers who are not normally expecting to encounter avalanches...
Comments
These were very destructive wet avalanches... Likely mostly loose (point release), but some pulled out as wet slabs around 3 feet deep as the slopes were overrun from above. You can see the crown of one through the falling snow flakes in the picture....
Comments
I measured the alpha angle on the avalanche that crossed FR 047 as 38°, which is quite steep... I've included the Theodalite pix which show GPS location and other data...
Coordinates