Observation Date
2/17/2020
Observer Name
Lyons
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork » Butler Trees
Location Name or Route
Circle Awl / Butler Trees
Comments
Today's bluebird skies after an over delivering storm, a touchy day in the backcountry yesterday, and an avalanche forecast that led to conservative decision making led us to examine the current snowpack and see what was happening. We didn't see any instabilities on the hike up and the snow felt as if it were consolidating quite more than we expected.
We dug a pit on the northeast aspect of butler trees near the ridge line. The angle was around 26 degrees. We were able to easily get finger indentations on the new snow showing it was loose and non-consolidated. We also felt the crust from last weeks warming events and deeper found what we believed to be the dickens crust as well.
Our isolated column test cracked at CT14 with full propagation at CT23.
The skiing conditions were surfy and a bit grabby with the density of the snow. Overall a beautiful day in the backcountry.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates