Observer Name
Staples from Alta Ski Patrol
Observation Date
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area » Sugarloaf
Location Name or Route
Sugarloaf Mtn
Elevation
10,800'
Aspect
West
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2'
Width
300'
Vertical
250'
Comments
This avalanche occurred at the Alta Ski Area on a slope that did not have any previous ski tracks or explosive work. It represents a backcountry snowpack.
Two ski patrollers were approaching this slope because it is a common slope that gets loaded by south winds. As they approached the slope, they triggered a collapse and remotely triggered it. Red circle shows them after the avalanche released near the trigger point.
Remotely triggered avalanches like this are a major red flag.
Photos courtesy of Alta Ski Patrol who also provided a photo of the same slope on Jan 2 just before light snow on Jan 4 capped the faceted December snowpack and preserved the weak layer on the surface.
Comments
Photo below from Jan 2
Comments
Photo from the avalanche crown showing weak layers in the snowpack. The line in the middle is a fist hard layer of facets that much of the avalanche failed on. Below that weak layer are much harder layers of facets (about 1 finger hardness) with very weak, depth hoar at the ground. Large parts of the avalanche broke on that depth hoar around rocks seen in the Jan 2 photo as well as photos of the bed surface.
Coordinates