Donate Now to Our Year End Campaign!

Observation: Bunnels

Observation Date
2/18/2014
Observer Name
Primomo
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » South Fork Provo R. » Bunnels
Location Name or Route
Bunnells Ridge
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Brief period of blue skies and light winds before greybird came back and winds picked up in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,800'
Slope Angle
29°
Comments

Profile site chosen with safety and accessibility in mind. Pretty solid snowpack here, all resting on basal facets of course. Would expect snowpack to be more shallow and weaker lower down in starting zones and tracks. Rounding the dominant process, though still weak (4F) faceted snow at the ground. The steeper part of the slopes right below this site all ran mid storm cycle, likely on the 9th. This crown is believed to have connected from Big Springs Bowl 5, all the way north through Bunnells drainage, and around the corner into Bridal Veil, roughly 3 miles long.

In general, the Cascade area looks like a war zone. Deep slabs and debris tongues rule the mountain landscape. It is difficult to tell the difference between slopes that have slid and reloaded, and those that haven't.

Also spotted this fairly fresh natural in "Behind The Veil Chute #1" ESE aspect at 9500ft, likely from past 24-48 hrs. HS-N-R2D2.5-O.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates