Observer Name
E. DeJong
Observation Date
Friday, March 11, 2022
Avalanche Date
Friday, March 11, 2022
Region
Logan » Wellsville Mountain Wilderness » Rattlesnake Canyon
Location Name or Route
Wellsvilles
Elevation
8,600'
Aspect
Southeast
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
18"
Width
200'
Vertical
Unknown
Caught
1
Carried
1
Comments
Our party of three did not observe any signs of instability on our ascent to a sub- ridge line in the southern Wellsvilles. Two of us had done this exact tour earlier in the year and did not observe any notable changes in conditions from our last outing. Everyone was aware of the planned route and comfortable accepting the risk it presented. We primarily wanted to avoid the persistent weak layer by sticking to south and east aspects.
Skier MD descended first directly in the trough of the gully and exited to an island of safety. Skier ED skied along the ridge and then dropped into the bowl at a convexity topping out around 35 degrees. After 2 turns, the slope gave way and started funneling into the gully. ED deployed airbag and was able to edge to the side of the gully after taking ~10sec 200ft ride, while most of the slide came to a stop 5 seconds later. ED not buried, skis & poles intact.
Lessons learned: Just because we skied it before does not at all guarantee it is safe to ski again. Winds with gusts of 40mph the night before deposited snow from the storm 3 days earlier onto the face we should not have provoked so soon after this activity.
Comments
I was able to take a few pictures from Hwy 89/91 on 3-11-2022 (Toby Weed)
Coordinates