Observer Name
Grainger
Observation Date
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Avalanche Date
Monday, January 2, 2023
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird periphery » Mary Ellen
Location Name or Route
Mary Ellen
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
38°
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
Unknown
Width
300'
Vertical
100'
Comments
Observed 2 relatively small slab pieces in North facing American Fork today that likely occurred on 1/2 during the height of PI (precipitation intensity) , one in the Outhouse area of Mary Ellen and one down around 8800' lower toward the gut of AF.
The geometry and shorter-running nature are similar to other slides in the aspect/area from that event.
Trigger likely natural if they did indeed occur during the storm but based on snowmobile traffic in the area may have possibly been triggered in the following days by riders.
Coordinates