Avalanche: Wilson Glade

Observer Name
Kelly P
Observation Date
Monday, January 18, 2016
Avalanche Date
Monday, January 18, 2016
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Wilson Fork » Wilson Glade
Location Name or Route
Wilson Glade
Elevation
9,700'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
38°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Ground Interface
Depth
Unknown
Width
150'
Vertical
300'
Comments

Storm snow was accumulating rapidly. Estimated > 1 inch an hour. Wind did not appear to be a factor as the slope is mostly wind protected. Approximately 4-5 tracks on the slope before we skied it starting in the steep zone near Wilson Chutes. We skied the lower angle off camber zone between the pines and the steep rollover. On our last run, skier 3 remotely triggered the wide steep zone that typically slides on the glade. The result cause the adjacent slope (skier's left of the first role over) to sympathetic. The resultant slide ran full full track, with the debre pile well into the flats. Initially we were not sure if we triggered the slide and did a beacon search of the slide zone. The only warning flag we noticed was the accumulation rate, compounded by the upside down snow pack. We didn't stick around to dig a pit and check for the weak layer due to the safety of being on the slope with high precip rates. I would guess facets near the ground. No collapsing, no cracking noted.. Reported to be not the upper headwall but further skier's left and down by the steeper rollover.

Coordinates