UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Park City Ridgeline

Observer Name
Chris W
Observation Date
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Avalanche Date
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Big O
Elevation
9,500'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
35°
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
12"
Width
175'
Vertical
200'
Comments
Little pocket of 30 plus degree slope under the cliffs in Big O propagated and slid into the trees. It's unclear whether this was a natural or wildlife triggered slide, either way it is the largest I have ever seen in these trees... Scary stuff At 12" to 18" deep and 150 to 200ft wide this would have caused serious issues for anybody caught in its path. It slid 100 plus feet into the trees below, with it piling up between 3 and 5 feet on the trees in its path. Under the soft slab there was over a foot of facets that went straight to the ground, I'd bet this will be a repeater slide throughout the season. Just goes to show that even smaller, seemingly protected slopes will be sketchy for the entire season if they are over 30 degrees.
Coordinates