Observer Name
CJ
Observation Date
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Avalanche Date
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Y Couloir
Location Name or Route
The Y Couloir
Elevation
7,000'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Weak Layer
Wet grains
Depth
Unknown
Width
40'
Vertical
600'
Comments
My partner and I planned to do the Y Couloir on Sunday. Before heading out we had discussed the hazards of the possible PWL existing on this north facing slope and had the understanding that we needed to be very conscious of any reg flags as we believed the danger could be very real. As we got to the bottom of the couloir, we were slightly surprised to not see any other tracks heading up it. This was not necessarily a flag, as we are both aware that just because there are tracks doesn’t mean its safe, but certainly something we briefly discussed. We decided to continue up and transition from skins to booting. While transitioning we observed several small sluffs and rollerballs coming off the rocks around us. Wet slides were not something we had originally been anticipating but given the warm temps at that low elevation we quickly became aware of this new hazard. This was our first real flag.
We cautiously continued, staying along the left side where we were mostly protected from any slides above by rock outcroppings. We then reached the first exposed area about 250’ into climbing, where rocks all the way across forced us to diagonally cross the entire couloir. A fall on this very steep area would result in bumps and bruises at a minimum. Now on the right side of the couloir, with my partner above me and about 300’ into the climb now, a rollerball formed about 10’ above and to the right of me, quickly enlarging to about the size of a truck tire. Luckily, I was looking up and was easily able to take 1 step to the left and avoid it. While not dangerous on its own, had it knocked me off my feet I would have fallen all the way down the steep rocky area we just ascended. This was flag number 2.
We decided to continue just a little further where there was a large rock outcropping that would provide protection for us to regroup and discuss, about 400’ into the climb. Right as we approached this area a small wet slide came down the couloir, stopping in a flatter area just above us. Again, this was small enough not to be dangerous on its own, but this would certainly have knocked us both off our feet and likely tumbled the now 150’ or so ending with the rocky area. This was flag number 3.
As much as we wanted to ski the line, we both quickly agreed to turn back. Climbing down simultaneously, we made our first mistake, by not spotting for each other. After downclimbing about 100’, about 50’ or so from the rocky area, I happened to notice a large puff of snow above the rock we had turned around from. While the rock blocked the slide itself, I knew it was an avalanche and I immediately yelled to my partner just above me. We both yelled at each other to head just down and to the right to seek shelter as best we could. We were very lucky to have been only 10’ or so from a rock just big enough to provide protection. We watched as a large wet slide took out the entire width of the couloir, exposing previously covered rocks the entire way down, eventually stopping just below the original rock section we have diagonally crossed on the way up. Hearts racing, we downclimbed the rest of the couloir as quickly as possible, taking turns on watch from whatever safe areas we could find, eventually reaching our skins and skiing the last little bit down to the river.
We cautiously continued, staying along the left side where we were mostly protected from any slides above by rock outcroppings. We then reached the first exposed area about 250’ into climbing, where rocks all the way across forced us to diagonally cross the entire couloir. A fall on this very steep area would result in bumps and bruises at a minimum. Now on the right side of the couloir, with my partner above me and about 300’ into the climb now, a rollerball formed about 10’ above and to the right of me, quickly enlarging to about the size of a truck tire. Luckily, I was looking up and was easily able to take 1 step to the left and avoid it. While not dangerous on its own, had it knocked me off my feet I would have fallen all the way down the steep rocky area we just ascended. This was flag number 2.
We decided to continue just a little further where there was a large rock outcropping that would provide protection for us to regroup and discuss, about 400’ into the climb. Right as we approached this area a small wet slide came down the couloir, stopping in a flatter area just above us. Again, this was small enough not to be dangerous on its own, but this would certainly have knocked us both off our feet and likely tumbled the now 150’ or so ending with the rocky area. This was flag number 3.
As much as we wanted to ski the line, we both quickly agreed to turn back. Climbing down simultaneously, we made our first mistake, by not spotting for each other. After downclimbing about 100’, about 50’ or so from the rocky area, I happened to notice a large puff of snow above the rock we had turned around from. While the rock blocked the slide itself, I knew it was an avalanche and I immediately yelled to my partner just above me. We both yelled at each other to head just down and to the right to seek shelter as best we could. We were very lucky to have been only 10’ or so from a rock just big enough to provide protection. We watched as a large wet slide took out the entire width of the couloir, exposing previously covered rocks the entire way down, eventually stopping just below the original rock section we have diagonally crossed on the way up. Hearts racing, we downclimbed the rest of the couloir as quickly as possible, taking turns on watch from whatever safe areas we could find, eventually reaching our skins and skiing the last little bit down to the river.
Looking back up we could see where the slide had started, a steep rocky slab area angled into the couloir. We realized how lucky we were to be where we were when the slide occurred. Almost our entire bootpack had been swept away. 20’ above or below where were and things would have turned out much differently. We estimated the debris field to be a couple feet deep, about 40’ wide and about 150’ long, enough to bury us at least partially, combined with all the rocks we would have been dragged over. We acknowledged that while we made the right decision to turn around, we were still in danger until fully exiting the couloir and should have done a better job treating the situation as such.
Back at the car, about 45 mins after the slide, we watched while getting back into our shoes and saw no other slides or evidence of slides further up the couloir.
Coordinates