Observer Name
Mark Oliver
Observation Date
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
Rainbow Ridge
Elevation
9,400'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
38°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
4"
Width
10'
Vertical
100'
Caught
1
Carried
1
Comments
Party of 3.Heading out of white pine in the afternoon. Skinning up rainbow ridge for one last run. Trying to gain the northwest ridge for easier skinning. 6 feet from the ridge I paused. Wind loaded, check. New snow not bonding well to old snow, check. Steep slope, check. I took 2 more steps and triggered a small soft slab avalanche 10 feet above me, only about 8 feet wide but enough to carry me 50 feet down the slope. Why did I continue in spite of the red flags? I cant say. Just plain stupid.
Comments
Forecaster Comment: Thank you for reporting this. I would'nt say "just plain stupid" sounds like you were picking up on all the right signs. Next time you'll perhaps be able to pull back sooner and avoid the next one. Lessons like this are great because at the end of the day you're okay. Unfortunetly, too many people get lessons with snow that have far more tragic outcomes. Great observation. Trent Meisenheimer
Coordinates