UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Gobblers

Observation Date
1/17/2019
Observer Name
Peter Donner
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill Creek Canyon » Mill A » Butler Fork » Gobblers
Location Name or Route
Gobblers Knob
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wednesday's snow was 6 inches of light density. During the day Thursday 4 inches of heavy density fell, setting up heavy over light snow. Columns failed easily at the Tuesday/Wednesday interface, which was 10 inches from the surface on Thursday, and may be 20 inches or more by Friday. Columns also failed on the pre-Christmas weak layer which is about two feet down. Avalanches failing in the new snow and stepping down seem likely on Friday. The depth of these slides will be 2 to 4 feet.
Comments
Toured Gobblers both Wednesday and Thursday from Porter Fork. On Thursday the skin track from Wednesday had disppeared without a trace under windblown snow. Thursday morning at 8:30 there was intermittent light rain at the trailhead at 6000 feet. By 10am there was light graupel at 8000 feet. There was minor cracking during the day Thursday and gusty winds with generally light snow. Danger during the day was considerable, though snowfall and winds picked up late in the afternoon. If the forecast of 12 to 18 inches new snow with wind gusts to 50 mph verifies, the danger will be high if not extreme on Friday.
FORECASTER NOTE: Peter Donner knows the areas and snowpack history quite well. Worth paying attention when he submits info.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High