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Observation: Bear Trap

Observation Date
12/1/2022
Observer Name
Garrett Hamilton
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Bear Trap
Location Name or Route
BearTrap Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
PWL is definitely there and causing some general instability in the snowpack. On S facing slope, ice crust is sitting on large layer of facets, however the new snow is not bonding well and breaking on top of this ice sheet,
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Lots of wind drifts on E and NE facing slopes with heavy cornices visible from the bottom of The Valley. Winds were picking up into the late afternoon and early night and continuing SSW.
Snow Profile
Aspect
South
Elevation
8,800'
Comments
Faceted layer sitting under sun crust on S facing slope. Cohesive slab all the way to the ground past the facets with the new snow not bonding well. We dug two pits and ended up with an ECT 12 and ECT 17 on a 31 degree slope.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates