Observer Name
Jack O'Neal
Observation Date
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Monitors » West Monitor
Location Name or Route
West Monitor
Elevation
9,900'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Density Change
Depth
2'
Width
70'
Vertical
Unknown
Comments
Remotely triggered a hard wind slab on West Monitor today. We were travelling in a group of 4 and the first skier triggered the slide. There were considerable signs of wind loading on the face as we approached from the top, but my group and I decided there was a safer line away from the obvious slabs. Once dropping, a small crack formed which spread quickly across the southern side of the face. The avalanche occurred to my skier's right, but very well could have slid all across. In retrospect, there was no right call on that face. Shortly after my ski, two others outside of my group dropped into the face and luckily didn't trigger any further slides.
Comments
Forecaster Note:
Multiple submissions - additional photo below. (Colt)
https://utahavalanchecenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/observation_i...Coordinates