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Observation: Martha Bowl

Observation Date
12/15/2021
Observer Name
Sean
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Pioneer Peak » Martha Bowl
Location Name or Route
Martha Bowl
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I really wish I would have taken a video of our first pit. We dug one big party pit and split them in two. The first pit was perched on top of a rock shelf roughly 15-20cm from the ground. The snow height in the first pit was 110cm and pretty much half old snow and half new snow from the prior two storms. We got an ECTP4 with "cash register" style movement from a planar shear; failing on the PWL in the middle of our pack. The second pit was snow to the ground, and failed on the PWL with less gumption at ECTP15. Video of the second pit is attached.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Looking across to the east facing apron of The Seagull; obvious wind activity was noted. Photo attached.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,700'
Comments
Nearly 20 inches of snow last night! While approaching our pit location, we felt two obvious collapses with little to no visible cracking. It was also surprising that no avalanche activity was seen, aside from a small sluff off Tusc that was partially covered by last nights storm snow.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates