Observation: Bear Trap

Observation Date
12/18/2020
Observer Name
Fink
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Bear Trap
Location Name or Route
Beartrap Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
More widespread than expefted in the mid-elevation BCC locales that I usually think of as safe. Lots of hand pits today on N-W slopes and there were 12" of basal facets everywhere. The load that we've received is minimal. I doubt that any healing will occur soon. Danger remains the same (High) as the new load settles, but I think it will heal at best to considerable before additional load.
Comments
Toured up Beartrap Fork to the head of the drainage. The trail in is very bony. Beartrap west has a skiable amount of snow and is the only skiable terrain up there that doesn't have facets lurking. We opted to avoid the glades, having made a lot of inclinometer measurements there previously and knowing that the mid-slope roll is 30-32 degrees, an angle which produced surprising avalanches during this last storm. Cautious routefinding through the trees was still eye-opening, with propagating collapses and whoomphing every 30-40'. This is terrifying, as we didn't even get much load onto our faceted base. The potential to trigger large, propagating avalanches remains in anything approaching avalanche terrain. Less commonly for the Wasatch, the potential to trigger slides remotely and from below remains and will reactivate with the next load. For now, it seems the only prudent approach is to stick to slopes of 28 degrees or less with nothing above you, regardless of the point of the compass. Sadly, this isn't going to change any time soon. Makes me wish for a nice rain event.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable