Avalanche: Butler Fork

Observer Name
AW, RC
Observation Date
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Avalanche Date
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork
Location Name or Route
Big Water Gulch
Elevation
8,800'
Aspect
North
Trigger
Skier
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
7"
Width
100'
Comments
Travel was over Reynolds peak into butler fork up and over into big water. Skin conditions were new snow on a pretty stout crust. Sensitive cracking around the skin track was observed on all aspects & all elevations. After dropping into north facing terrain into big water Gulch cracking propagated much more easily and further. On the skin out about 200' shy of the ridgeline the entire 27 degree slope broke above us, spider webbing across the entire slab. We assume that the low slope angle & relatively low density kept the snow from releasing. Failure appeared to be on a faceted layer above the rain/rime crust. We moved out of harms way and approached the slide from a safe spot to snap some photos below. Given the extreme sensitivity I would imagine these instabilities work themselves out quickly once th storm subsides, but for the next few days it may remain active even in low angle terrain.