Avalanche: Superior

Observer Name
Wetzel, Huntsman & others
Observation Date
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Superior
Location Name or Route
Backside of Mt. Superior into Mill B South
Elevation
10,900'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Facets
Caught
2
Carried
2
Buried - Partly
1
Comments

FORECASTER NOTE: Numerous reports from different parties combined here. Thanks to all who contacted us!! Sorry if I've got details mixed up. We will try to look at this on Thursday. Confirming if faceted snow was a player and which layer failed may give insight for expected rise in avalanche danger with upcoming storm for the weekend. Kobernik

Observation #1: 'This avalanche remotely triggered at a rock (thin point in the snow pack) just below the ridge line while skinning uphill. Both uphill travelers were carried and neither was buried or injured. The skier that triggered the avalanche lost his ski but it was recovered by the other skier shortly after searching for it.'

Observation #2: 'I saw the aftermath of the slide that carried one or two skiers, (one of which deployed his ABS). To my knowledge none were buried, they both were able to stay on top. (The 2nd individual might have come to the rescue…therefore only one might have been involved in the actual slide). No apparent injuries, both were moving around effortlessly afterwards. It appeared as if they were skinning up. I wish I had more information, however here are a few photos of the slide.'

Comments

Photos below: Huntsman

Coordinates