Observer Name
Jen Santoro
Observation Date
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Bear Trap
Location Name or Route
Bear Trap
Elevation
8,200'
Aspect
North
Slope Angle
37°
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Depth
6"
Width
5'
Comments
I hesitated to call it an avalanche, it was very small, but it was remotely triggered.
We were skinning a shallower slope and remotely triggered a small slide next to us that was a much steeper angle (I estimate it to have been around 35 to 40 degrees). It wasn't big enough to bury a person, but it was indicative of the very sensitive snow during the storm.
The sun came out and things started to shore up, but there were repeated squalls all day, each time more snow accumulated it got sensitive and started cracking again.
We saw numerous collapses and cracks and all of them failed at the new snow/old snow interface. The snow underneath is saturated and wet and grey.
It's typical spring behavior---fresh snow is sensitive and the sun heals it quickly.
The photo isn't great, didn't want to be on that slope to get a better one.
Coordinates