Observer Name
Cdec
Observation Date
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Avalanche Date
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine Gulch
Location Name or Route
Red Pine
Elevation
9,600'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
36°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
10"
Width
60'
Vertical
70'
Comments
Headed into Red Pine with the intention of skiing No Name or White Baldy. Winds above the lake were blowing sustained 20 with higher gusts.
Lots of snow being moved on the ridges and in the upper bowl. We decided against going to the ridge and began our decent from the top of the trees above and south of the lake. Snow on sheltered N aspect skied well down to the lake.
Just below the lake there was a small cornice above a short slope. As we were moving above the cornice, well back from the edge, the slope below triggered remotely.
We were then able to get the cornice to fail as well.
Strong winds above the lake transporting snow down slope into the trees created the loading/slab which failed on facets and possible surface hoar.
Coordinates