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Observation: Broads Fork

Observation Date
1/24/2023
Observer Name
R. Kosinski
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Broads Fork
Location Name or Route
Broads Fork
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I didn't experience any reactive wind slab on my tour but I would suspect that more protected, high elevation areas will have isolated wind slabs from the NNW winds.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Gliding Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Upper Broads Fork and Stairs Gulch are riddled with glide cracks. A few appeared to have released prior to the last major storm cycle. Any involvement with one of these glide avalanches would be unsurvivable.
Comments
Started my tour around 0930 under overcast skies and very light (S-1) snowfall. Upon reaching the summit around 1300 skies turned to broken, snowfall stopped, and a light wind out of the NNW was present. There was widespread strasuggi in exposed areas along ridgelines; no reactive wind slabs were observed. The most notable thing I saw was the glide cracks in Broads and Stairs Gulch. As more and more people push into these areas, the likelihood that a glide avalanche could have skier involvement increases. As the season progresses, it will be important to know when the likelihood of release increases (such as significant water percolation through/under the snowpack) and stay out of these areas.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates