Avalanche Conditions as reported on January 10, 2004 Avalanche Forecast.

Interestingly, there were two reports yesterday of more recent deep, hard slab avalanches. One was a natural in Broads Fork, which probably ran on Wednesday or Thursday, triggered by wind loading. It was on Bonkers, a northeast facing slope at about 10,000’, and was reported to be about 8’ deep (click here and here for photos). The other was from resort control work in upper Little Cottonwood, and was 6 feet deep and 150’ wide, north facing, at about 11,000’. I think these slides indicate that in very isolated areas, a large trigger such as a hefty cornice drop or several snow machines on a slope at once might be able to trigger one of these bigger slides.

A more widespread danger today will be the chance of triggering an old wind slab or a loose sluff on a steep slope. Yesterday, one more small human triggered wind slab was reported from the Patsy Marley area that was about 30’ wide and 2 ½ feet deep. The warm temperatures are making the cornices more sensitive and they are breaking out larger and further back than expected. Wet loose snow activity will also continue today, though the final balance between the wind, clouds and sun will determine its extent. With periods of high, thin clouds expected, damp sluffs may also occur on the steep northerly facing slopes at low and mid elevations. So as the day heats up, get off of and out from under steep, sunny slopes.