Avalanche: Hidden Canyon

Observer Name
brandondodge
Observation Date
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Hidden Canyon
Location Name or Route
Hidden Canyon
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
35°
Trigger
Snowboarder
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Depth
Unknown
Width
Unknown
Vertical
Unknown
Comments

Details are spotty, but Brighton Patrol recieved reports of 2 seperate slides in the Hidden Canyon drainage. Both were user triggered and crowns reported 12-18". Also recieved third hand report of activity in Lack-o-waxen drainage. Many natural avalanches began occuring in the Brighton Basin around this time. Unsure if additional load finally effected buried weak layers or if the warm temps are the colprit. Control work in the Ski area produced many slabs stepping down into old snow. A few of these seen to have multiple step downs and appear to be running below the rime crust from last week. On another note we also had one of our rescue dogs buried 2.5 ft deep found by a patroller as a second rescue dog was beginning the search.

Coordinates