Observer Name
Adam OKeefe
Observation Date
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Hogum » Ivory Chute
Location Name or Route
Ivory Chute
Elevation
9,900'
Aspect
West
Slope Angle
41°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
Density Change
Depth
12"
Width
25'
Vertical
500'
Comments
Guess my partner and I drew the unlucky card; set off the only reported avalanche in the Wasatch during the last few days of an all-aspect, all-elevation Low danger cycle. With little width in the tightly treed entrance of Ivory Chute for a proper ski cut, I did a hop turn to put pressure on the new pow layer. Aimed to see if I could get the new snow to sluff before making turns. Was surprised when a crack opened at my feet, widened, spread the width of the narrow chute, and proceeded to run full track. (Partner caught a photo of it breaking at my feet.) The remaining bed surface near the top of the chute was a firm crust ~1.5 inches deep, sugary beneath to the ground. 30 feet further down the line, the bed surface was the more expected, fully bomber snowpack as is widespread now. Good reminder that Low danger doesn't equal no danger.
