Observation: East Bowl

Observation Date
1/2/2021
Observer Name
Tom Bergman
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » East Bowl
Location Name or Route
East Bowl
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
We skinned up Michigan City with the intention of skiing the due west line of East Bowl (starting around 10,100). Following a previously set traverse, we worked our way past quite a few tracks that dropped into the earlier, steeper NW sections. I started to get cracking when the tracks diminished as I was breaking trail, so we stopped and evaluated the safest way down. I made my way across a very low angle slope towards a flat knoll. Cracks shot and propagated down slope and to both sides. I kept my edge to the flat knoll and stopped. When I looked around, I noticed it had collapsed and that I was near the middle of a slab approx 100 ft across and 50ft vertical. It hadn't moved 2 inches, but was visibly cohesive. My partners communicated what they were seeing from their position, and we decided I should cut back to the left as to maintain a constant visual. From there we slowly worked our way down 1 by 1 in short segments, following the lowest possible angles. At the bottom, my buddy mentioned he thought we had heard a collapse up higher as well, but wasn't certain. Didn't get any pictures as focus was elsewhere ....
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates