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Observation: Butler Fork

Observation Date
3/18/2018
Observer Name
Julia Wythe
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork
Location Name or Route
West Saddle Butler
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate and sustained winds out of the west, with a few calm points
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
A short graupel event followed by light stellar crystals and wind on top of dense old snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
With wind impacting the west side of butler ridge, we began to notice the possible development of a wind slab on the direct west facing slope around 8300ft
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Westerly winds were fairly persistent throughout the day, developing a notable layer of denser snow on top of old more saturated snow beneath it (1 finger hardness). There was a lack of cohesion between these layers, and when impacted by a skier created small but noticeable cracks in the snow beneath it.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
The same westerly winds that we found to be an area of concern for wind slabs were the same winds that stared the development of some cornices on the east side of the ridge between butler trees and and the aspect just west of it. That development in conjunction with the preexisting cornice was producing some minor slides on the east aspect.
Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
8,300'
Slope Angle
33°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates