Observer Name
Andy Farrell
Observation Date
Monday, March 28, 2016
Avalanche Date
Monday, March 28, 2016
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Main Days
Location Name or Route
Main Days
Elevation
10,300'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
37°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow
Depth
7"
Width
300'
Vertical
600'
Comments
Ascending the east ridge of Main Days, we stopped to drop in at the first flat "step" in the ridge, about 200 ft shy of the ridge intersecting Reed and Benson. PI rates were pushing 2 in/hr for the preceding two hours prior to our descent.
On my second ski cut I triggered a storm slab that propagated 10-15 ft uphill (about halfway between the ridge and I), and about 300 ft laterally. The avalanche ran 500-600 ft. to the beginning of the "half pipe" portion of the Main Days slide path.
Most likely attributable to the awesomely high PI rates out there today and possibly some very minor wind loading on northerly aspects. Served as a good reminder to stay assertive while dealing with new snow instability.
We checked in with the two other parties skiing from the top of Main Days before exiting to BCC. Only small point releases and a few roller balls noted lower in the drainage.
Slope angle and elevation are estimates. Sorry about the lack of photos.
Coordinates