Observation Date
2/20/2019
Observer Name
Chester
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork
Location Name or Route
Butler fork
Comments
Cool. But warming. Sun. Not many tracks. any S winds light but still able to transport snow. Just pocket on Lee side below 9000'. More Moose(pic)
Pits-I dug 2, didn't document. no propigation in either.
SSE pit 7800 multiple crust layers w facets growing(pic). Ectn6 on rain crust. Rest of crust layers we're similar. My takaway -Bad complex onion but No slab so far. 2" newer snow above rain crust.
ne pit 8200 rain crust ectn 16. Collapse n break within shovel.(no pic). Newer snow 6" here.
Guessing facets around crusts will grow n weaken, waiting for a load.
I went low for danger today due to minimal snow transported, no red flags, which may reflect that I didn't get above 9200. Not sure what snow transport was doing higher. Low clouds indicated moderate west flow.
I was curious if with the cold weather, first sun/rapid change to thermal state would loosen things up on s facing steeps but didn't see anything.
Getting around moose without chasing it down the drainage is tricky. I planned ahead, stayed well high, went slow. and didn't have to skin up to go around and down but I would have. Probably 50 yards does it. They seem to like sleeping on Skinner(pic of bed)
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None