Observer Name
Plow Goat, Claw, Brief, and Stir Fry
Observation Date
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Avalanche Date
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Shark Fin (Upper Days Fork)
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
Northwest
Trigger
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Density Change
Depth
10"
Width
100'
Snow Profile Comments
10-12" of medium/light density snow resting on top of a graupel layer. Variable depth with more (loading) on N/NE/E aspects.
Comments
Our party of four ascended Days Fork from spruces for a long walk to the ridge with LCC. We intended to ski Jaws, Oingo, or one of the other N facing couloirs. We noted signs of instability on NE/E aspects on our ascent of Hideaway Park and West Bowl, both failing 8-10" deep on a graupel layer. This matched our expectations given all the NE/E avalanches reported yesterday.
On the summit of West Bowl, we discussed and agreed to ski down together to the tipping point of Shark Fin, the east most couloir of our options. Snow was light and we experienced lots of sluffing on the upper, lower angle slopes. One member of our party performed a ski cut across the top of the steep (35°+) entry to this slope, causing the face to immediately connect and break beneath him. He completed his traverse to an island of safety before we transitioned to climb back up and complete our day on less steep terrain.
Coordinates