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Avalanche: Depth Hoar Bowl

Observer Name
Greg Gagne
Observation Date
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Avalanche Date
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Alexander Basin » Depth Hoar Bowl
Location Name or Route
Depth Hoar Bowl
Elevation
9,800'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Natural
Trigger: additional info
Cornice Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
12"
Width
30'
Vertical
1,500'
Comments

From top of Yellowjacket looking over into Alexander Basin into Depth Hoar Bowl. Saw fresh debris at the bottom and went to the starting zone. It looks like it was triggered from a cornice fall which initially triggered a shallow wind slab. It was not very wide (30-50' at most) but ran full track. Much of Depth Hoar Bowl slid on 12/23 and the current snowpack is thin and faceted. Looking at the bed surface there are some rocks and bushes visible so likely the slide ran on the weak, faceted snow. Given that much of the starting zone had filled in, am guessing the weak snow couldn't hold much of a load and the slide occurred earlier during the wind event.

The Gobblers ridgeline above Alexander Basin is a cornice factory - some of the best in the Wasatch! We were able to kick several fresh cornices along the ridgeline that only generated sluffing within the storm snow.

I tried to get better photos, but this was about the best I could do. Mostly highlighting the starting zone as the toe of the debris was out of view.

SS-NC-R2-D2-I