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Accident: Twin Lakes Pass

Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Observation Date
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Twin Lakes Pass
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass - (between Alta and Brighton)
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
38°
Trigger
Unknown
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Weak Layer
New Snow
Depth
18"
Width
150'
Vertical
200'
Caught
2
Carried
2
Buried - Partly
2
Accident and Rescue Summary

Two skiers triggered an avalanche, were caught, carried and partly buried on the east side of Twin Lakes Pass. They were returning from Wolverine Cirque and there is one short section of steep slope you have to cross before you get to Twin Lakes Pass unless you loose 100 vertical feet to go around the steep section. This is the same slope that produced a fatality in similar circumstances several years ago.

The upper fracture of the fresh soft slab broke out about 70 feet above them and carried them about 40 feet into a dense stand of trees where they were partly buried. The looker's left hand lobe continued to travel downslope much farther, perhaps 200 vertical feet.

They were both OK but had to recover some of their equipment and they skied out on their own power.

The photo below shows where one of them appeared to be partially buried and you can see the fracture at the top of the photo. They were crossing mid slope between the burial site and the fracture.

A friend of mine saw the accident occur and reported it to Alta Central and made sure they could get all their equipment together and travel on their own.

Coordinates