Observation: Steam Mill Yurt

Observation Date
2/5/2021
Observer Name
Travis
Region
Logan » Franklin Basin » Hells Kitchen » Steam Mill Yurt
Location Name or Route
Steam mill yurt area
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Heavy wind loading on N, NE facing slopes. About 4-6inches of new snow so far with strong winds.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Still seeing signs of widespread instability. With new snow and strong winds we may see more instability as the PWL is loaded.
Comments
We spent the last 3 days up at steam mill yurt. Winds were fairly strong all 3 days with very strong winds and new snow 4-6inches as of this morning. Very scary snow pack and lots of wind loading occurring on N, NE aspects. After digging a pit on a wind loaded NE slope at 8500ft we had failure on ECT 12, and 14 on a cohesive wind slab on the upper half of snowpack. We also experienced failure on ECT 22, and 24 on the PWL much lower in the snow pack. We did not experience as much widespread collapsing or cracking as we did a few weeks ago. However my partner and me both experienced a very large collapse on a 25ish degree N facing slope at 8500ft. This collapse was very widespread across the slope and possibly connected slopes. Very weak snowpack with increasing danger due to wind and new snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High