Observer Name
Grainger, Rocca
Observation Date
Monday, March 14, 2022
Avalanche Date
Monday, March 14, 2022
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork » Butler Basin
Location Name or Route
Butler Basin
Elevation
9,500'
Aspect
Southeast
Slope Angle
39°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wet Snow
Comments
Quite warm temperatures and little air movement caused Southerly aspects' new snow to start moving by midday. Many areas of wet-loose activity under rock bands and on steep rollovers.
Despite this rapid warming the 4-6" of new snow generally posed little risk. However, skiing solar slopes over ~38 degrees produced enough energy to connect small sections into wet slabs. The hard M/F crust surface underneath allowed wet debris to run the length of steeper slopes and lethargically stack up into 2-5' piles, depending on terrain.
Though these pieces are easy to ski-cut, get off of or outrun, they could prove hazardous to an unsuspecting party who gets pushed through obstacles by high-density debris.
Coordinates