Avalanche: Alexander Basin

Observer Name
Mike Packard
Observation Date
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Avalanche Date
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Alexander Basin
Location Name or Route
Alexander Basin
Elevation
9,600'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Unknown
Trigger: additional info
Cornice Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
Unknown
Width
Unknown
Vertical
Unknown
Comments

I got a glimpse of this avalanche in upper Alexander Basin, midday on Friday, 3/18, don't know when it ran. We never got closer than a quarter mile. The picture's not great, but you can just make out the crown above the lowest trees. There was a small avalanche (wind slab or cornice?) above the cliff bands and then it broke out big below the cliff bands. My best guess is that the crown was 3-4 feet deep. This, and the other recent avalanches, tell me that the monsters are still lurking, not buried deep enough yet.

Forecaster comments - Believe this terrain has been a repeat offender at least twice before - East Chute area off the north Gobbler's ridge into Alexander - Each by natural cornice fall from above. Both new and old snow avalanches can be seen there from the east.

Coordinates