Avalanche: Rocky Point

Observer Name
Brian Muller
Observation Date
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Avalanche Date
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Rocky Point
Location Name or Route
Catherines Area
Elevation
10,400'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Weak Layer
Ground Interface
Depth
16"
Width
250'
Vertical
400'
Comments

At approximately 10am, as I got to a a safe location on the ridge, before I was even ready to stomp a cornice, the entire slope released below me, and where it was triggered, the crown was approximately 2.5'-3' deep. The slide ran all the way down to the bottom of the basin, full track, I would say it was R2D2. Attached are some pictures of the slide. I did not feel comfortable after poking around trying to get on the sketchy bed surface, with the hangfire, doing a crown profile, although it was clear it was the ground interface, and facets just above which was the bed surface and weak layer. In one place you can see it stepped down from approximately 8-10" to about 2'.

Alta Ski Area was not open yet for the season.

Coordinates