Avalanche: Rock Canyon

Observer Name
Dave Jarvis
Observation Date
Friday, April 14, 2023
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Region
Provo » Rock Canyon
Location Name or Route
Rock Canyon Hale Draw
Elevation
6,900'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Natural
Depth
3'
Width
150'
Comments
Hale Draw ran for the fourth time earlier this week. It started as a glide. It moved far enough that when it hit the roll-off on the open slab it spread in width and dropped taking out this Winters prolific ice on the East side of the cliff area. Large rounded balls came down the main part of the draw. It stopped 60' up from the trail. Some areas
are fairly deep. 10' +. There are areas of snow left that may yet drop. The size of the debris blocks will probably prevent a full run. The West portion may yet run big and cross the trail.
The previously reported avalanche at the first bridge is about 200' wide on the old road bed. 4' to 5' deep. It
fanned out from a point about 100 yards up slope. Above there is a slanted area to the west with a mix of
large rocks and smaller trees. It looked like it had a hard basal snow slab covered with softer snow that
provided some of the debris. There is a path of snow continuing up slope a few hundred yards. I couldn't
see a specific possible trigger. I think there was a trigger in the upper area and the lower went
sympathetically. 6:30 am suggests there was something specific that delayed it that long.. Percolation,
glide, random point release.
About 300 yards further West there is a typically narrow avalanche that looks like it happened the same time
as the first Bridge slide. It started higher than I could see, and stopped just at the edge of the old road bed.
Coordinates