UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Patsy Marly

Observer Name
Jesse
Observation Date
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Patsy Marly
Location Name or Route
West Ridge Patsy Marley
Elevation
9,600'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Cornice Fall
Avalanche Problem
Cornice
Caught
1
Carried
1
Comments
We were headed up the West Ridge toward top of Patsy Marley this morning. Were well aware of cornices and leeward wind loading as seen in photo #1 below and were trying to steer clear of the edge. Was about 8' from a nonoverhanging edge when it broke at my feet. I went down with it but stayed at the top, dropped about 8' down from the ridge. Although this was a huge cornice break, I almost hesitate to call it a cornice as it was more like an entire piece of the ridgeline broke away. Deep hard wind slab from last few days of honking winds. The largest pieces stayed up top as seen in photo #2 but some of it did slide downhill a ways into the trees 200' below. Photo #3 is looking up the ridge from fracture point. No fractures/propagations on slope below. Scary one, close call.
Coordinates