Avalanche
“Yesterday on Gobblers Knob, the third skier in Davis Gulch triggered a 2-4’+ deep hard slab that failed on a December persistent weak layer of weak faceted snow. She was caught and carried but ok. This was on a steep northwest facing slope at 9800′ and the POV footage is some of the more breathtaking footage I’ve ever seen.Thanks to the party for the footage and write-up. (photo S. Donovan)” – Utah Avalanche Center
Davis Gulch was named after Alan Davis. who was killed on this same slope mid-February 2003.
Avalanche Report
3 skiers approached Gobblers south summit (10,224′) from the north. After reaching the summit, skier 1 skied the ridge to the west of davis gulch and radioed when they were in a good spot. Skier 2 entered davis gulch and skied 400 vert pulling out of the run to the north/east. Skier 3 watched skier 2 pull up and entered following the same line. 200 vert into the run, skier 3 caused a hard slab avalanche that shattered 50 meters below and over to the ridge west of davis gulch. Skier 2 shouted at skier 3 and then to skier 1. Skier 1 moved to a safer area. Skier 2 kept eyes on skier 3 and started to ski down the slope. Skier 3 was carried 650 vert reaching a speed of 27mph, losing a pole and needing to dig out one ski to be free from the debris. After the initial avalanche, the entire west side of the gulch sympathetically released. The final debris pile was way down around 7800 feet.
