Avalanche: Two Dogs

Observer Name
Mark Staples
Observation Date
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Two Dogs
Location Name or Route
Two Dogs
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
35°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Remotely Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
12"
Width
1,000'
Vertical
400'
Snow Profile Comments

We traveled from Flagstaff Ridge to Davenport Hill. This was one of 5 avalanches triggered.

The biggest was Two Dogs which broke about 1000 feet wide. Most of the crown face was 100 feet or more below the ridgetop. I believe the layer of near surface facets was better preserved prior to snowfall last weekend, further below the ridge. Other slides tended to break some distance below the ridgetop. Others were triggered near very steep, rocky sections of the ridge where they broke at the ground in depth hoar (where the snowpack was thinner.

We dug a pit along the Silver Fork Headwall. It was much deeper (130 cm) and stronger. ECTP23 in the depth hoar. Triggering a slide in these deeper areas where the terrain was less steep would be harder....BUT I think would be much easier as you lose elevation and were in the middle of the slide path - that's where most of the avalanches were breaking.

Comments

Photo below of crown in Two Dogs

Comments

Photo below of a slide in the Silver Fork Headwall

Coordinates