Avalanche: Gobblers

Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Observation Date
Monday, February 17, 2014
Avalanche Date
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill Creek Canyon » Mill A » Butler Fork » Gobblers
Location Name or Route
East Face of Gobbler's Knob in to Alexander
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
East
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Depth
3'
Width
200'
Comments

When I was looking at the avalanche in Wilson Fork, I noticed that it looked like the East Face of Gobbler's Knob had a fracture and and avalanched into Alexander Basin. I did not have time to get up to take a closer look into Alexander's Basin but I could see the avalanche from a distance. I included a photo here. On flat light days like today, I find that I can spot avalanches easier by taking a photo and then zoom in on my computer and adjust the tone curve to improve the contrast. This is more effective than even using my spotting scope I always carry.

Anyway, it looks like it broke near the ridge on the right half of the photo included here and was an estimated 2-4 feet deep and perhaps 200' wide. It appears fresh, so I'm guessing it ran yesterday because it does not have much new or windblown snow on it. I'll bet there are several others like it on Alexander's Basin. Someone needs to take a look in there.

This is a photo of the summit of Gobbler's Knob from the ridge above Wilson Fork. You can see the fracture on the upper right of the photo, and it looks quite fresh, probably occurred yesterday. I would estimate it to be 2-4' deep and 200' wide. I did not have time to get up there and take a closer look.

Coordinates