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Avalanche: Flat Top

Observer Name
Eric and Amy Flygare
Observation Date
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Region
Logan » Mount Naomi Wilderness » Smithfield Dry Canyon » Flat Top
Location Name or Route
SW Lope of Flat Top (Smithfield Dry)
Elevation
8,000'
Aspect
West
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
New Snow/Old Snow Interface
Depth
18"
Width
150'
Vertical
Unknown
Comments
We spotted several wet slab avalanches during the brief period of sunshine shinning on the front range this evening. We got a good look at the east face of the front range (north of North Logan). We noticed several moderate sized avalanches in Smithfield Dry canyon on west facing slopes. It appeared that roller balls had affected the whole area, then the slab avalanches had occurred after the roller balls. Maybe the slab was triggered by the roller balls!? I was not able to get any better pictures from 10 miles away.
We looked across the range and noticed many roller balls and wet sluffs everywhere but these were the only two slab avalanches we observed. We saw ski tracks further north on similar and more southerly aspects and elevations with no slab avalanches initiated.
Coordinates