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Observation: Butler Fork

Observation Date
12/26/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork
Location Name or Route
Wilson/Gobblers
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Pesky north winds on the ridgtops, scouring norths and loading south aspects. Cold day, was glad I wore my Canada outfit.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

About 4" from the last impulse, light.

The rime crust in areas of the se bowl of Gobblers that have not slid is approximately 28" down. Hard to detect took a delicate touch.

ECTP 10 @14" Q2, at 9400' on south facing Wilson Peak, enough to keep us out of the start zone on the south shot. This is similar to what I saw in shortswing a couple of days ago.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Recent avalanches all over the place, photos below. This includes much of the Wilson Chutes, norths in Upper Butler Basin and the Sweedish corner and south facing areas of the se bowl Gobblers. Winds were loading the upper south aspects off and on today, some exposed norths in Wilson were scoured. Cracking in drifts near the summit of Wilson Peak, photos below. We stayed on mostly south aspects and did not observe the deep facets (intentionally!)
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Wind slabs on upper south facing aspects.

Considerable hazard. Moderate below the ridge tops.

FORECASTER COMMENTS: Another very long time savvy backcountry skier going through his decision making - thanks Todd

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Persistent slab on top of what I believe is a buried surface hoar layer as evidenced in the ECTP Described above.

Moderate hazard

Comments

Note we avoided travel on north aspects but I am treating the persistent weakness as moderate to considerable danger with very high consequence. Todays forecast was spot-on!

We felt like we could have safely skied one of the Wilson chutes which had slid but could not have safely skinned back up the north aspects to return to BCC.

Photos below: Cracking on BCC/Millcreek ridge near Wilson Peak:

Photos below, Slides in the SE bowl of Gobblers including large debris piles, many aspects:

We avoided all start zones today. Attempted to work our way up the souths below Gobblers but ran out of areas that had slid. We were not willing to continue into areas without obvious slide activity.

Still spooky out there, playing it safe.

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