Observation Date
12/21/2020
Observer Name
CT
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Guardsman Pass area
Location Name or Route
Guardsman pass
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
PWL still in full effect, naturals and skier triggered in view all over. Experienced multiple cracks and woomfs during the skin along the main ridge between 10420 and Hidden Canyon. Saw a likely remote skier triggered slide, maybe reported already? Crown ran about 300' more or less, 12-18" on new snow-old snow surface from recent storm cycle.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Problem #2 Comments
New snows still producing on most aspects, warm temps today got the south facing to have point releases, even saw one almost touch the road near Cardiff lot in BCC. Didn't put rapid warming since it wasn't much of an isue for us but elsewhere will leave even more crust and low tide conditions, plus it seems like it won't be a problem after today for now. After the first loud woomf we all could've been the cause of in a 28-30 degree area we moved over where it mellowed out and dug a quick pit for an ect, total depth was 65cm and like most have found on north facing aspects (this was NNE) we got an ectp4 with a clean brake around 35-40cm down. Before I even did the test I could just see what was going on, right after the test 100' away we saw the avalanche as noted above where the slope angle increased.
Comments
last nights rain/mist made tree skiing difficult, no extreme crusts but hard to get a good turn in tight trees, tide is still low and we hit multiple rocks and sticks underneath so avoid being around these obstacles right now.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates