Three avalanches reported from the same party:

• Silver Fork Upper Bowl- Remote triggered by skiers when they gained ridge 2'-3' deep x 500' wide
• Silver Fork Upper Bowl- sympathetic to remote avalanche 2'-3' deep x 100' wide
• Silver Fork- Skier caught and carried with lost gear- 2'-3' deep x 100' wide

Advisory from November 11, 2002

Avalanche Conditions:

Yesterday was the third very active avalanche day in a row. Backcountry travelers continued to trigger slides remotely, with the most spectacular one occurring when a large portion of northerly facing upper Silver Bowl released as a party crested the ridge. There were many other reports of cracking, collapsing, and slides being released from a distance in the upper Cottonwoods. All these slides are failing on weak faceted snow near the ground, and occurring on shady slopes above about 9,000’.

Another attention-grabbing occurrence has been reported by several people. A ski cut would trigger a shallow, loose new snow slide. Then when the person moved out on the slope, the remaining harder layers of snow failed on the weak facets near the ground. Proving ski cuts are not a reliable test under the current conditions.

Avalanches also occurred yesterday within the new snow in areas of pooled graupel and in fresh wind drifts. These new snow weak layers are on a wider variety of aspects, and more scattered and pockety.

Many of the unopened resorts, including Alta, are closed to uphill traffic today for control work. Please obey all closure signs. Practice safe travel techniques - cross slopes one at a time, don’t jump in above your partner and carry your backcountry rescue gear like beacons, shovels and probes.