On Saturday, November 11th, at least three human
          triggered avalanches occurred near the Alta area.
          1) Two backcountry skiers on alpine touring equipment
          decided to ski Wolverine Cirque between Alta and Brighton
          ski areas despite two feet of snow the previous day
          accompanied by strong winds.  Wolverine Cirque is extremely
          steep terrain on a very exposed ridgeline and was the site
          of a fatal avalanche accident in very similar conditions
          several years ago.
               The slope fractured when the first skier descended and
          broke about 1 1/2 - 2 feet deep on a 40 degree NE facing
          slope.  It slid on depth hoar formed during the previous 2
          weeks of clear weather.
               The skier rode 800 vertical feet and was slightly
          banged up on rocks during the descent.  He was completely
          buried but was shallow enough that he could get his head and
          arms out and was able to dig himself out.  He lost his
          skiis, poles, hat, mittens and sun glasses, but otherwise
          escaped with no injuries.
          2) A skier unintentionally triggered an avalanche on a 40
          degree east facing slope at Alta ski area which is still
          closed and no one is doing avalanche control.  He was not
          caught.  It slid 2 feet deep and about 70 feet wide and ran
          on a graupel layer which fell at the beginning of the storm.
          The slope was wind loaded the previous day.
          3) A backcountry skier unintentionally triggered an
          avalanche near Catherine's Pass on a north facing slope.  He
          was a local avalanche professional on a day off.  He dug a
          snow pit near the slope and did not like what he found.  He
          then skirted around the slope and went into the flat below
          and noticed that the slope was sliding and also noticed that
          his avalanche dog was swimming out of the flank of the
          avalanche which was moving slowly on a relatively flat
          slope.  He wasn't sure whether he triggered the avalanche or
          his dog came off of its stay command and triggered the
          avalanche.  There were no burials or injuries.
               The avalanche skid on depth hoar and was about 2 feet
          deep and 80 feet wide.  The slope had been recently wind
          loaded.
          Bruce Tremper, Director UAFC