Avalanche: South Monitor Bowl

Observer Name
mark white
Observation Date
Friday, January 10, 2014
Avalanche Date
Friday, January 10, 2014
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Monitors » South Monitor Bowl
Location Name or Route
South Monitor
Elevation
9,800'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
34°
Trigger
Natural
Trigger: additional info
Cornice Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Ground Interface
Depth
3.5'
Width
200'
Vertical
800'
Comments

On my way to No Name took a look at South Monitor no activity noted, on the return trip out noted a fairly large avalanche had taken place in South Monitor, skiers right side of the peak N-NE facing, Looked to be a natural triggered by a cornice fall. Crown varied from 4 to 2 feet deep, 175-200ft wide running to the flats at the bottom. The slide pulled out to the ground interface, and the only thing left in the bed surface was about an inch or two of rotten faceted snow, and dirt and rocks. Massive wind loading for 2 straight days finally over loaded the slope, with some help from a cornice fall. Photos, a few of the crown, and the slide path. Good call on the hazard today, if slopes like this are ripping out mid afternoon naturally the hazard is definitely high.