Observation: Bonkers

Observation Date
3/23/2021
Observer Name
BC
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Broads Fork » Bonkers
Location Name or Route
Bonkers, Broads Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Beware! The east wind! Going up Broads Fork this morning winds were calm to light, mix of sun/clouds/light flurries, and cool but not cold temps. A few hundred feet from the top of Bonkers winds became sustained moderate to strong from the east. Drifts on the leeward (west facing) side of the ridge were deeper than 2 feet in places and cracked easily under my skis. I'd expect and new wind slabs in steeper terrain to be touchy, and potentially up to D2. Lots of snow to blow around out there! After skiing Bonkers (still 5-star pow!), observed that winds off the ridge line were still calm to light, so this seems like an isolated problem for now. Still, never trust the east wind!
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates