Observation: Soldier Peak

Observation Date
12/28/2019
Observer Name
T Diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Soldier Peak
Location Name or Route
Butler, Soldier, Wilson forks - BCC/Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold! The sun felt good while it was out, but by the end of the day it was snowing surprisingly well.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Not really enough wind to blow the fluffy new snow of the last few days into a slab. Fairly decent - and disappointing - crust on due south aspects, so we stayed on E and N aspects.
Comments
We were a little wary of Wilson Chutes - a frequent flier - and went elsewhere for a while, 'til someone else skied them and turned on the Green Light! Just kidding - sort of. When we skied one of them at the end of the day we got a decent sluff and the base was a little hard, but there was no slab on top. If the wind was cranking and there was slab development we'd have been more worried.
If it seems that pretty much every slope that represents the PWL hazard has been skied over the last few days and there hasn't been a human triggered avalanche on any of them - that I know of - is the concept of "human triggered avalanches possible" still valid?
It seems like the biggest hazard now are the reloaded slopes (basically 3-4 of them on the PC ridgeline?) that slid down to the hard base at the ground?
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates