Avalanche: Upper Weber Canyon

Observer Name
Kikkert
Observation Date
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Elevation
10,500'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
3'
Width
175'
Vertical
30'
Comments

Partner and I had been poking around on SW facing slopes all day, and finding them to be surprisingly spooky, with facets above a suncrust formed last week (see separate observation for pit profile, etc.). As a result, chose a 30 degree slope for our exit run. First skier skied down to safe spot. Felt a minor collapse at the safe spot, and watched an adjacent, crossloaded, slope (which fed into a gully) slide. Seems to have run on the facets above the suncrust that we had been noting all day. However, when trying to examine the weak layer above the sun crust, couldn't see much more than broken particles with the occasional facet mixed in. Also, although I could not see any surface hoar, the way it triggered remotely was very much like surface hoar. Other west facing slopes on the other side of the gully cracked, but did not slide. Thinking that they did not have enough of a slab, and really needed more of a slab from wind load to slide. Photos below.

Coordinates