Observer Name
Matt Asay
Observation Date
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Wilson Fork » Wilson Chutes
Location Name or Route
Wilson Peak (middle chute)
Elevation
9,900'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Skier
Depth
16"
Width
20'
Snow Profile Comments
North-facing in Wilson Chutes and Wilson Glade was creamy. A little bit wind-loaded on the ridge looking down the Chutes but much less than expected, given the wind that was gusting from the west. On the exit to the south the sun from yesterday left a crust on much of the snow, though it was possible to find soft lines all the way down.
Comments
Surprised that there wasn't more wind loading on the ridge overlooking the Chutes. What little cornice there was above the middle chute wouldn't budge no matter how hard I stomped near the ridge. However, it was clear that there the slope would fracture with wind slabs (the snow was perfectly toned from the wind). Did a quick ski cut and skied out of the chute to watch half the chute turn into a river of slough, maybe 16" deep (shown from below and above in the pics), which ran all the way to the base of the chute. It took off the top of the settled storm snow and left a mildly crusty base underneath. The narrower chute to the skier's left (the highest chute, right off the peak) would almost certainly be a full-on river of slough, with nowhere to go to get out of its way. One or two skiers appear to have skied the skier's right-most "chute" on Tuesday, exiting to Millcreek Road.
