Avalanche

[raisingarizona]

My thoughts exactly. New snow + high solar radiation + temperature changes = increasing likelihood of the snow reacting. The snow doesn’t care what day the calendar reads.

We’re just getting our first heat wave of the season here in BC and for sure there will be a natural avalanche cycle. Whistler closed the alpine early today.

Yup, being May that’s the first thought that jumps into my mind but it could have been cold too. 30 inches, wind transport, some slab and a good spring pack bed surface and you’ve got conditions for a tragic slide. I haven’t paid any attention to the Wasatch weather this week so I don’t have a clue.

 

[JTG]

It’s been winter conditions up there this week I believe. The incident was in the Big Willow Cirque area. It’s at least a three hour tour just to get there, longer to make the summit of Lone. Some reports say it took the party that got caught in the avy five hours to get in. It’s a remote objective that requires experience and dedication. Pretty technical terrain, especially the NE Couloir. Between the winter conditions and the remote, technical terrain they are waiting for conditions to improve to perform recovery efforts.

 

[MarzNC]

It’s been winter conditions up there this week I believe.

To give some idea of the weather in the Utah mountains earlier this week . . .

I've been following the early May snowstorm in LCC/BCC, partially because a long time member of DCSki posted a few pics. He retired a few years ago and gets to spend most of the ski season at his son's house in SLC. The Snowbird storm total was 36+ inches in 3 days, with mid-winter temps. That was more than the automated forecast from OpenSnow. Only the Peruvian chair was open the first two days due to high winds at the top and low visibility in Mineral Basin. On the first day, Peruvian was closed for a short time midday when ski patrol was doing some avalanche mitigation work.

For Snowbird on May 6

For Snowbird on May 7

Snowbird Mountain Report on May 8:

 

[raisingarizona]

That’s a whole lotta new snow with a whole lotta wind in a relatively short amount of time.

Lone Peak is a big, high risk objective with a long approach.

 

[JTG]

That’s a whole lotta new snow with a whole lotta wind in a relatively short amount of time.

Lone Peak is a big, high risk objective with a long approach.

For sure. Usually in May you aren’t dealing with deep new snow, potentially poor bonding, and wind slab. Spring risks are always there with warming and whatnot, but risks can often be mitigated with proper timing and avoiding south facing slopes. Dealing with midwinter avy conditions in May has got to be a bit unusual.

I spent time looking at reports and videos from this week wishing I was there (not so much the crazy lift lines at Peruvian)….but I probably would have been tempted to go out a gate I’ve been through before.

Scary stuff, you always gotta be on your game.

 

[MarzNC]

avy conditions in May has got to be a bit unusual.

And attracts attention in a way that probably doesn't happen mid-winter. Nothing new in the NY Times article that hasn't already been noted in this thread.

May 9, 2024

2 Skiers Die and 1 Is Rescued After Avalanche in Utah

One skier was lifted to safety by helicopter near Lone Peak on Thursday morning, the authorities said.

www.nytimes.com

May 10, 2024

Bodies of 2 skiers buried in Utah avalanche recovered

The bodies of two men who were killed in an avalanche in Utah's backcountry outside of Salt Lake City were recovered. A third man was with them and was rescued.

www.foxnews.com

" . . .
Three men were climbing up a ridge on a slope called Big Willow Aprons and near the top when the slide was unintentionally triggered, the Utah Avalanche Center said.

The first climber was carried downhill on the right side of the ridge and partially buried. The other two were swept away on the left side of the ridge and buried, the center said in its report.

The first climber was able to dig himself out and call for help. He was rescued by mid-day Thursday, but the weather conditions prevented the recovery of the other two men.

Family members of the two victims were at the search staging area near Sandy on Friday, Rivera said.

The snow broke about 2 feet deep and 250 feet across and slid down about 500 feet, the avalanche center said.
. . ."

 

[takeahike46er]

Avalanche forecasts typically end in the spring. I’m curious if that creates a false sense of security for some folks heading into the backcountry this time of year.

Though a storm slab and/or wind slab may be unusual for this time of year, their formation isn’t limited to the confines of the winter season. Just like wet loose and glide avalanches aren’t exclusive to spring. Good decision making isn’t calendar dependent, it’s condition dependent.

 

[raisingarizona]

Avalanche forecasts typically end in the spring. I’m curious if that creates a false sense of security for some folks heading into the backcountry this time of year.

Though a storm slab and/or wind slab may be unusual for this time of year, their formation isn’t limited to the confines of the winter season. Just like wet loose and glide avalanches aren’t exclusive to spring. Good decision making isn’t calendar dependent, it’s condition dependent.

It could, possibly but the people in this incident were experienced.

 

[MarzNC]

Avalanche forecasts typically end in the spring.

Looks like the Utah Avalanche Center ended their forecasting for the 2023-24 season on May 1.

 

[tirolski]

These are the two men who died in an avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon

The names of the men who died in an avalanche near Lone Peak on Thursday are released.

www.sltrib.com

RIP