Avalanche: Two Dogs

Observer Name
Mark Staples
Observation Date
Monday, January 11, 2016
Avalanche Date
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Two Dogs
Location Name or Route
Two Dogs - Days Fork
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
38°
Trigger
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
13"
Snow Profile Comments

Hardly a slab present but it doesn't matter. What defines a slab is the weak layer. As long as the slab is just a little stronger than the weak layer, we can get an avalanche. The facets in this case are very weak. This slope avalanched on Dec 22. Then some very low density snow fell, then very cold temperatures followed and the new low density snow and the old snow became very faceted and weak. On Jan 6 & 7 this area received about 1 inch of water and about a foot of snow. I think there were two skier triggered slides here. One was intentionally ski cut and triggered. Unsure about the other.

What shocked me was how shallow and weak the snow is. It looks more like the snowpack in early December in Montana. We don't need it here in the Wasatch.

Comments

There was another skier triggered slide just opposite the high point of Flagstaff shoulder. It was late in the day and the light was poor for photos.

Coordinates