Observer Name
Nick Burr
Observation Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Patsy Marly
Location Name or Route
Patsy Marley
Elevation
9,800'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Wet Loose
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Weak Layer
Wet grains
Depth
6"
Width
60'
Comments
Wow. proper Wet slide on a North aspect at almost 10k! Did a beacon search, there was no one in it. (please always search a debris pile if it's safe) and called it into Alta Patrol, who actually told me I should have called Alta Central dispatch but they handled it anyway. Thanks! -good to know.
Epicly strong Greenhousing (low clouds reflecting solar energy (LIKE A GREENHOUSE!) absolutely blasting the snowpack with heat on loop) from maybe 1-3pm or so was the culprit.
The crust which was the bed surface only had a superficial refreeze and then the heat kicked in and it all of a sudden was running water downhill, even on Norths! At probably 3 or so water was running down tracks on the Patsy headwall. This avalanche likely happened around 1:40pm??.
Coordinates
