Avalanche: Uintas

Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Observation Date
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Lofty Lake Peak
Elevation
10,800'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
35°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Weak Layer
Depth Hoar
Depth
2.5'
Width
250'
Vertical
300'
Comments

While decending the slope coming-off the ridgeline and looking for thin weak snow I remotley triggered this slide which released some 70-100' away. It fractured in a steeper thin and rocky area and continued to pull-out snow in similar areas as it wrapped around the corner continuing to release snow. The slab was a combination of 4 finger to pencil hard and the weak layer was weak faceted snow at the ground.

Comments

Craig's forecast for the western Uintas has continued to talk of how we trigger slides from thin snow pack areas and not where it is deeper and stronger. I was a bit surprised to say the least when this slide was growing in size as I watched it pull out hard slab chunks and wrap around the corner.

Comments

The strong winds we received throughout the week have moved a lot of snow around and have created some deep wind slabs that are over loading these thin weak snow pack areas.

Coordinates