UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Mt Aire

Observer Name
Culberson
Observation Date
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Region
Salt Lake » Parleys Canyon » Mt Aire
Location Name or Route
Elevation
8,200'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Depth
15"
Width
Unknown
Vertical
800'
Comments

We had seen three skier released slides from the day before and 5 naturally released slides (3 norht facing - 2 east facing) on the way up Mt Aire. About 9:30 am, two of us were looking down the three north facing gullies just below the summit (@ 8350ft) on Mt Aire. The two western most gullies had slid naturally creating a crown line that extended across the gully up on the western rocky side and then went extended all the way down the side wall of the gully for 800vertical feet. The gullies went completely with substantial debris at the bottom - each gully is slightly more than 30 degrees and pretty much true north facing. The eastern most of the three is the shallowest and least steep - 30 degrees or just under. The evidence was obvious and suggested (loudly) that the hazard was considerable (just as your report indicated). I had skied the center gully on Tuesday , the day before the most recent storm, and all the gullies many times. With a good spotter, I ski cut fairly deeply into and across the gully - nothing - the snow had not bonded to itself or the layer about 1 foot down. Three careful turns just skier's right of center and it felt OK - on my seventh turn the gully broke above me at turn three (50 feet up) propagating rib to rib with about a 12-18 inch crown - - I saw the rippling of snow buildup as I skied and my partner yelled to ski out right. - all was good as I skied our right and watched the gully run 800 vertical and sieve through the aspen copse at the bottom. Complacency due to familiarity - I was careful with what I did, but that it ran was really a no-brainer. I have skied 10 out of the last 15 days and have been paying attention - I thought. Nice forecast - you are right on. Thanks for your good work. Cheers

Coordinates