Observation: White Pine

Observation Date
12/20/2020
Observer Name
P Lambrose, T Carter, N Chandler, D Butler
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Our group experienced some Red Flag collapsing and cracking as we traveled along the mid to upper zone of White Pine. Collapsing happened along the flats and on slopes between 20 and 30 degrees. Climbing to 9300' elevation, we saw a recent avalanche on a NE facing aspect that probably released last Friday, see Pic 1 below. We dug a snowpit up slope from the slide to determine which PWL the avalanche failed on. Our snowpit was 80 cm deep with an ECTP 14 that failed 40 cm from the surface. Pics 2, 3, and 4 show our snowpit results. After the pit we climbed to 9600' elevation and saw a second recent avalanche that again probably released naturally last Friday, see Pics 5 & 6. We saw no evidence of previous tracks nearby to have been a possible trigger. In fact, we were trail breaking with no prior tracks in the area. Kind of unusual for the Wasatch to be able to break trail again.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate