Observation: Gobblers

Observation Date
1/17/2014
Observer Name
P Diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill Creek Canyon » Mill A » Butler Fork » Gobblers
Location Name or Route
Gobbler's Knob, NW Face, far skier's left cloase to trees
Weather
Sky
Clear
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mostly soft under zipper crust, significant wind damage

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A little over a meter of snow where I dug, 4 fingers hardness at surface tapering down to pencil about half way down the pack, then sudden transition to fist+ loose facets. CT26 Q1 at the ground, leaving a hard, intact block. Firm enough to support me walking for about 2 steps, then I fell through to the ground.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Low probability today, horrific consequences

Comments

Partially obscured vertical line on 9:05 photo shows hardness - depth of finger poking. Note aspect and elevation are just the way the camera was pointed, not the actual slope angle and aspect (29 deg, NW)

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates