Observation: Broads Fork

Observation Date
2/23/2024
Observer Name
P Diegel, J Kallanian, A Koerner
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Broads Fork
Location Name or Route
Broads Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
We observed evidence of recent and lurking potential glide avalanches in the usual places - deep open cracks and a recent-looking significant crown and debris pile in Bonkers, and significant activity and cracking in the Diving Board area. A hasty pit in Bonkers (10k ft, N- NE) yielded about 20cm fresh loose snow over about 55 cm hard (one finger) slab, all sitting on a thin layer of graupel. Tugging on the isolated column resulted in an easy release with clean shear, causing us to stop climbing short of the top of Bonkers. Temps remained cold in the shadows and we found widespread adolescent surface hoar which could become a buried problem next week. We found a moderately stiff wind slab just below the ridgeline on a steep N facing slope. Many bold lines were skied in Broads and Mill B today with no apparent incidents. I would say the deep PWL is pretty well off the table if I hadn't just read the Banana Days ob (gulp!)
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates