Observer Name
Fullmer
Observation Date
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Avalanche Date
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch
Elevation
9,400'
Aspect
Southwest
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Depth
16"
Width
100'
Comments
HS-AS-D1.5-I
The ridge of this gully was clearly wind effected and loaded. I stepped onto the wind loaded snow to demonstrate wind loaded instabilities to an Avalanche Level 1 course, hoping to get some results. The collapse remotely triggered the avalanche which moved very rapidly into the gully. Impressive energy to the avalanche.
The crown averaged 1-1.5’ in depth (30-45cm). The width was approx. 100’.
We also experienced an audible collapse at 10,100’ on a SW aspect near East Pass. This also was a heavily wind loaded zone in rocky terrain. We were in flat terrain, no apparent cracks with the collapse.
To investigate SW aspects further, we dug a pit at 9600’:
- CT5 SC down 15cm within new snow (density inversion from storms Dec. 13-14)
- CT10 SC down 25cm at new/old interface (December near surface facet layer)
- CT27 RP down 55cm within old snow (at the early season facet layer)
- ECTN4 down 15cm
- ECTN7 down 25cm.
TLDR: it’s what we know, all that we need is more snow and a slab and we’ll see plenty of avalanche activity. If the tipping point isn’t here, it’s near.
Coordinates