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Observation: Stairs Gulch

Observation Date
2/21/2019
Observer Name
Bill Nalli
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Stairs Gulch
Location Name or Route
Broads - Stairs Gulch
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
The day started out sunny, cold and crisp. By around noon, wrap around moisture and wind from the SE began to move in and turn things a bit gray and slightly colder. Periods of intermittent snow continued through the end of the day above 9000'. The wind was moving a little snow along the upper most ridges and exposed terrain features but it never seemed enough to create much of a new wind slab in the areas I travelled at least.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Moderate SE winds from last night and today created a thin wind skin on E aspects that now sits on top of small grained facets that formed over the last cold days. Not sure if this will cause trouble with the modest new load forecast in the next couple days but its something to keep in mind. There is also a slightly thicker (4"-8") new wind slab that formed on NW aspects from these same winds. When entering the upper part of Stairs Gulch this slab felt a little spooky but was not reactive and only exists close to the ridge. Surveying snow depths throughout the day was impressive. Throughout Broads Fork and Stairs Gulch HS is anywhere from 250cm - 310cm. It's been a while since things were this filled in. Of note however are some areas in upper Stairs where HS is as low as 140cm. Obviously from significant avalanche cycles over the last few weeks.
Off the ridgelines skiing is simply sublime.
Comments
We did see one recent avalanche worth mentioning. It likely happened sometime yesterday as there was about 1cm of new wind blown snow on top to the debris. It was located at approx. 9600' on a NNE aspect in Stairs Gulch. The crown was hard to see from my location but likely originated between the uppermost and middle cliff bands at the top 1/3rd of the drainage. The debris covered a good portion of the main gully in the middle of the drainage. Unsure the dimensions or the trigger. Below are two poor light photos, one looking up toward the large rock slab that it traveled over and another looking down showing the extent of the debris.
We also took note of the many large yawning glide cracks in Broads Fork. They are all in the usual locations but it seems that the deep snow cover is pulling them open with a little extra force than in recent years. Below some photos to document their size as we move into warmer days.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates