Observer Name
Karen
Observation Date
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Region
Logan » Beaver Creek » Beaver Mountain Backside
Location Name or Route
Beaver Mountain Periphery (Descending below the ridge that runs south of Beaver Mountain)
Elevation
8,000'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
28°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
Wet grains
Depth
14"
Width
10'
Vertical
70'
Comments
While skiing down a slope on the backside of beaver, my partner and I stopped to evaluate the terrain. We decided to descend the next open pitch one at a time. They went first and when they got to the bottom I began descending. While descending, I suddenly noticed that there were signs of snow removed and carried to a debris pile by a previous avalanche (about 10 feet across and 70 vertical feet). I stopped when I made this observation and then saw an avalanche right next to me about 8 feet across move down the slope and stop where the slope of the terrain became more gradual. The avalanche was a thick, slow flowing slab. The slope appeared to be no more than 25 to 30 degrees although a measurement was not taken. The sun had came out a few hours ago and was heating up this open East/Southeast facing slope.