Avalanche: Catherine's Pass

Observer Name
Toddeo
Observation Date
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Avalanche Date
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Catherine's Pass
Location Name or Route
Catherine's Pass, Alta side
Elevation
10,400'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
36°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
18"
Width
50'
Vertical
125'
Snow Profile Comments

Crown ranged from 8 to 18".

Shear testing @ crown - failure upon isolation to ECTP6.

I was dusted near the bottom.

Comments

Problem is storm slab over facets.

This was the 4th test slope I checked out, nothing on the 1st 3, I was about to start thinking that the snow was more stable than anticipated.

Of Note: This morning I was about to walk out the door with no avy gear, I was thinking \that I would be going for a stroll up a cat track. I grabbed the gear at the last minute thinking that I might need it in case someone is skiing above the cat tracks and starts a slide! Plans changed.

Comments

Danger is considerable on north facing aspects with faceted old snow.

Not really enough snow to call it skiing!

Wind drifts up to 3' deep in places, trail breaking was not easy (could also be the fact that there has been no trail to break in a while...)

Coordinates