Avalanche: Beaver Mountain Backside

Observer Name
Jeremy Jensen
Observation Date
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Avalanche Date
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Region
Logan » Beaver Creek » Beaver Mountain Backside
Location Name or Route
Beaver Mtn Backside Area
Elevation
8,500'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
33°
Trigger
Snowboarder
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Weak Layer
Depth Hoar
Depth
3'
Width
70'
Vertical
150'
Comments

Powsurfer triggered. No one caught or carried.

Suspect slopes were cracking and collapsing all day. Most were not moving more than 20 feet or so if at all.

Two pockets on the same slope broke and slid on the first rider. The upper slide was 40 inches or so at the crown along rock outcroppings. 40-50 feet wide and ran 30 feet or so. The second lower slide was 36 inches deep, 75 feet wide and ran about 140 feet. Broke on a convex roll where the slope maybe reached 35 degrees. These two also caused another 50 foot pocket to crack and slightly release for 10 feet or so.

Not super threatening but certainly would be in steeper terrain or if an unsuspecting person stood below.

Photo1 - upper slide that ran behind and south of rider. Ran only 30 feet or so.

Comments

Photo

Fracture on upper slide seen under the hand of rider.

Comments

Second and slide a couple hundred feet below the first. (Wide angle lens makes the slope look steeper than it is) 3 foot crown running about 140 feet.

Comments

Photo - Second slide fracturing underfoot.

Coordinates