Observer Name
Csquared
Observation Date
Friday, February 14, 2025
Avalanche Date
Friday, February 14, 2025
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Lake Mary Chutes
Location Name or Route
Mary chutes
Elevation
9,400'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Snowboarder
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Depth
2.5'
Width
100'
Vertical
300'
Caught
1
Carried
1
Comments
Two snowboarders and myself (also snowboarding) dropped into a north (slightly NE) facing chute in the Mary Chutes zone at Brighton resort.
There had already been many riders through the area we dropped. We each rode down to the bottom of the open bowl and stopped to watch another rider (not in our party) come down.
He came down a different chute that hadn't been ridden yet. As he approached the opening to the bowl we heard a loud whumpf and saw the snow begin to slide. The propagation was roughly 80-100 feet wide and about 2.5 feet in depth.
The rider (not in our party) pulled off riders left and we immediately took off as we saw the slide approaching us. One rider and myself were able to get to safety, while our third friend was swept off his feet and carried around 50 feet down the bowl to where it flattens out.
Luckily no one was buried. Two good reminders came out of this experience: pre-existing tracks don't guarantee stability and familiar resort side/back country zones are not your friend.
Coordinates