Observation: East Couloir

Observation Date
3/29/2019
Observer Name
CDav
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Kessler Peak » East Couloir
Location Name or Route
Kessler East Couloir
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
No wind to speak of down low, but as advertised, winds increased with elevation into moderate category. Wind from the NW we approached the Argenta ridgeline
Avalanche Problem #2
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Snow rates varied between S1 and S2 throughout the morning, loading enhanced by wind
Comments
Route today was up Argenta to ridge then Kessler peak and out East Colliour/Mill D South. Snowing all morning varying between S1/S2. New snow depth about 10 inches down low, increasing with elevation and as new snow accumulated throughout the morning. As we worked our way toward the ridgeline we saw a handful of soft wind slabs that had released, likely triggered from party in front of us earlier this morning. We were able to trigger multiple small, soft windslabs ourselves as we made our way along the ridgeline toward the peak. Once above the East Colliour, we kicked a cornice and did a small ski cut , both of which caused some minor sluffing. We agreed that we were likely to trigger some soft wind-slab by skiing the line, but felt it would be manageable. My partner dropped in first, skied down a hundred feet or so while causing some sluffing. This then released a slab 6-12” deep that propagated about 30 feet and took out all of the new and drifted snow snow. Partner was able to pull off to the side and watch as a larger than expected amount of snow made its way down the choke and onto the apron below. Vis sucked, so no photo.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates