Utah Avalanche Center

Surprised at ECTN. Expected propagation.

6 inches of new high density snow

Isothermal but appeared to be well drained.

Very warm and moist. Snow surface damp even at upper elevations. Afternoon squall with rain, hail, strong SW wind, and a few minutes of heavy snow. Warmth in past few days and lack of freeze overnight causing shallow snow to be less stable.

Ran the sled above the pit wall several times. Nothing would crack which tells me it's hard to start a collapse in the weak layer. ECT results and recent avalanche activity tells me it's possible and when it does, the facets under the dust will propagate a crack really far.

Flank of a skier triggered avalanche that happened at approximately 1200. The avalanche fractured at 69 cm.

Snowpit near crown of older triggered avalanche in Hell's Canyon