Observation: Birthday Chutes

Observation Date
12/29/2020
Observer Name
P Diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine » Birthday Chutes
Location Name or Route
Birthday Chutes
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Climbed cautiously to the bottom of the birthday chutes, concerned about overhead exposure. Did a quick block isolation with my pole and the block failed about 70 cm deep before I completely isolated it, leaving a ragged shear plane but a solid enough block to grab and pull out. Out of curiosity I did an ECT and got no propagation, but I then gently levered the block with my hands and it popped out with lots of enthusiasm, failing on facets at the ground. Total depth at that point was 105 cm. Possible to trigger something failing at the old snow interface that could step down to the ground? I didn't go any higher to test that theory.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The wind was swirling around low in the drainage, but there was a lot of spindrift coming off the ridge and looking like it was depositing in the Tri chutes - E - SE wind? The BDay chutes had a lot of texture, looking pretty wind-affected.
Comments
The coverage is improving but there are still shark rocks lurking just below the surface. At least they are big and sharp.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates