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Avalanche: Pioneer Peak

Observer Name
Toddeo
Observation Date
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Avalanche Date
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Pioneer Peak
Location Name or Route
Pioneer Peak
Elevation
10,000'
Aspect
Northwest
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Density Change
Depth
4"
Width
35'
Vertical
400'
Comments

Skier triggered by solo rider while entering from the Pioneer Peak ridge. We were below skiinning up the bowl on lap 3 or so. At first we thought it was a natural that came off the cliffs above and out of view. Missed us by 20 feet, probably would have knocked us over but not buried us. Then we noticed more snow coming down and a snowboarder appeared, gopro on pole and everything. He stopped, saw us and didn't give us time to get out of his fall line before continuing. Based on a short conversation after he fell near us, I think a complete lack of knowledge on his part. This is based partly on the fact that he called me "sir" when apologizing after a brief lecture (family friendly).

We did observe a fracture above us but below the trigger point, he likely caused a sluff which triggered the slab lower down the slope.

Avalanche 2:

Also observed one natural that I guess it occurred yesterday afternoon, 400' vertical and 50' wide, soft slab, no hard debris. Likely initialed on the cliffs above

Avalanche 3 (if you can call it that...)

I also triggered one soft slab in the area, 4" deep, 30' wide on a 36-37 degree slope, it broke but did not run more than a few inches.

Comments

Other obs for the day:

3-5" overnight depending on elevation. Light snow during the day ranging from pellets to some perfect rimed stellers.

2 day total above 9,500' is in the 8" range. last nights snow fell on a weak warm crust that likely formed yesterday afternoon. Q3 shears/breaks below this crust.

Some minor green housing during the late morning. Snow below 9,000' was damp and a bit spongy on our exit at 12.30.

Sky generally obscured from sunrise until 12.30.

Main concerns/red flags:

Today: wind slabs, moderate hazard.

Tomorrow : wet avalanches with sun and warmth.

Comments

As Mark observed yesterday, the midpack below the storm snow is damp. isothermal and weak. Easy to push a pole basket all the way in. The ski runs I skied yesterday were a bit more solid........

Coordinates