Avalanche: Flagstaff Ridge

Observer Name
CG, JH
Observation Date
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Avalanche Date
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Flagstaff Ridge
Location Name or Route
Flagstaff Face
Elevation
9,800'
Aspect
Southeast
Trigger
Skier
Avalanche Type
Wet Loose
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Depth
3"
Width
10'
Vertical
300'
Comments
Triggered some wet loose slides (D1) off Emma's Ridge finishing up the day from Days Fork around 1445. Made it about halfway down until the snow got less corn like and more dense in nature. We kicked out some clean slides that ran for ~ 150 ft until running off into the gully below (almost looked/felt like glide avalanches...). Luckily no one in the party got caught.
During trip planning we talked about leaving out of Days Fork if it got too late to avoid solar aspects. Definitely made some bad decisions on the timing of our descent as well as the line we eventually took. Staying on the Flagstaff Shoulder would've most likely avoided this problem altogether. Learned our lesson to never underestimate the spring sun in the Wasatch - stay safe out there folks!
Coordinates