Eric

Provo » Provo Canyon » Timpanogos » Forked Tongue Couloir

Forked Tongue Couloir, North Summit, Mt. Timpanogos

11,100'

Northwest

40°

Skier

Unintentionally Triggered

Wet Loose

Wet Snow

Wet grains

12"

100'

Unknown

Route: Ascended the Cold Fusion Couloir (NW facing) on the north summit of Mt. Timpanogos, from the Timponeke Road. Despite a clear night, the snow had not frozen overnight and was not supportable to ski boots. The party ascended on skins. In the central, deeper portions of the couloir, the snow was soft but supportable (on skis) and provided fairly easy skinning. Towards the edges of the track (thinner snowpack areas) and around bushes and trees, the snow was isothermic and skis penetrated deeply. These areas were avoided. At about 11,000 feet, the snow turned to scree and the party scrambled to the satellite north summit (Point 11395) on foot. On the way down, the party glissaded carefully down a small west-facing section of the upper Forked Tongue Couloir (west-northwest facing) and the lead person triggered a small, shallow wet sluff. Within about 5-10 seconds, this small wet sluff gradually expanded and gouged down to the ground, entraining a very large amount of snow. It produced an impressive standing wave, traveled over a cliff band, erupted into a huge spray of slush, and then proceeded out of sight. The full track was not visible from our location, and it was not possible to visualize how far the avalanche ran. Avalanche was very destructive and would not have been survivable. Nobody caught or carried. (Apologize for the lack of photos)