Observer Name
Hardesty and Fitzgerald
Observation Date
Friday, January 14, 2011
Avalanche Date
Friday, January 14, 2011
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Alexander Basin
Location Name or Route
Mid Alexander Basin
Elevation
8,600'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
7"
Width
60'
Vertical
50'
Comments
This avalanche ran on the January 9th 4" of 4% that faceted over the week of high pressure. John Fitzgerald, friend and colleague and avalanche instructor for AAI (American Avalanche Institute) here intentionally triggering this steep roll between the upper Alexander Basin and the lower.
Comments
Surface Hoar was guilty before being proved innocent. It proved innocent with a minute of detective work. John dug down beneath the facets 4" to find the January 8th Surface Hoar clearly still intact. Slab was the overnight snow plus a bit of wind.
Coordinates