Avalanche: Hidden Canyon

Observer Name
Stoddard
Observation Date
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Avalanche Date
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Hidden Canyon
Location Name or Route
Great Western/Hidden canyon ridge
Elevation
9,400'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
36°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
18"
Width
60'
Vertical
125'
Comments

An obvious wind loaded slope with a very dense deep hard slab along the ridge. The slide propagated mid/upper slope as I delicately searched for the trigger point, which required very little help by a soft ski stomp. The slide was very cohesive breaking apart into large chunky blocks which had rapid accelaration over the rock cliffs and ran into the trees below. The crown 40 feet below the ridge had stubborn slab hangfire still attached to the ridge top. A good sign that low angle skiing was in the near future!

Coordinates