UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Two Dogs

Observer Name
Rob Aseltine
Observation Date
Monday, December 9, 2013
Avalanche Date
Monday, December 9, 2013
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Two Dogs
Location Name or Route
Days Fork - N/NE Aspect of False Flagstaff (Two Dogs)
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
30°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Cornice Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
10"
Width
150'
Vertical
300'
Comments
We approached the summit of False Flagstaff around noon and just happened to see one skier beginning his skin out of days fork. We noticed this skier had triggered some smaller slides on the east face of his run down into Days Fork. He was the only one out there. We ate lunch for a half hour and assessed the situation. Once we saw the skier exit the canyon, we decided to cut a cornice from where he dropped but on the more North facing aspect. With the coast clear, we cut the cornice about 5 ft. wide and 1 ft. thick. This rectangular chuck dropped about 50 ft and then released about a 50 ft. wide section 8"-12" deep. After passing the cliff in the picture it propagated skiers right and another 100 or so feet. The slide maximized about 100 feet after the second portion ripped. It traveled another 200 or so feet down.
Comments
Yep, we bailed. Skied back down Toledo bowl. Still rocky under the new snow and the new snow is dense and pretty wind affected, changing consistency all over.
Comments

Forecaster Comments: Noted - with our ever popular (read: crowded) backcountry terrain, close calls are becoming more frequent between parties above one another. Situational awareness is key - as demonstrated here - to be aware of who is below prior to slope testing - Hardesty