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Observation: Gobblers

Observation Date
3/26/2016
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill Creek Canyon » Mill A » Butler Fork » Gobblers
Location Name or Route
Gobblers, east and west aspects.
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Calm day, some instability showers late in the day, a few flakes of new snow, no accumulation. Temps were cool enough to preserve far more of the snow surface than expected.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Generally powder surface except for the scoured upper ridge of gobblers. It was possible to find some areas of dry snow below 8000' while exiting Alexander's. Snow from this week is sitting on a variety of surfaces ranging from dense settled snow to supportable crusts. Less sluffing today than I observed yesterday on Kessler.

Some protected east aspects in Alexander's had a crust this afternoon, these aspects received sun this morning. Southwest aspects on the cabin run did not receive enough sun as of 4.30 pm to dampen.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No real red flags observed today. I would assume that with warmer temps and sun forecasted for tomorrow, wet snow hazards will be the primary concern.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Normal caution may include slides for life on crusted south aspects.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #2 Comments

Wet snow hazards will increase with warmth and sun tomorrow.

Comments

With the exception of everyone and their uncle on the bowman fork trail, generally a calm day in this area. Based on the many steep lines skied I think I can say generally a low danger. I would increase this to moderate tomorrow for sun and heating.

One possible cornice fall triggered natural in the east couloir. Less than about 30' wide but it ran close to full track. I would estimate during this weeks storm.

Some wet activity on south east and east aspects near exposed rocks in Alexander's, large enough that you would not want to get hit by one.

A lot of aspects will be crusted tomorrow.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate