UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Butler Fork

Observation Date
3/24/2023
Observer Name
MS
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork
Location Name or Route
Butler Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Skinning into Butler Fork at around 12:30 pm during a period of heavy snowfall my partner and I noticed many red flags pointing to new snow instability. About 10 minutes into skinning there was a natural avalanche about 8 inches deep and 50 feet wide that was released where we had stood about 30 seconds prior. Heading up the trail to Circle All Peak we noticed several other natural avalanches on steep sections of small slopes. Walking in the new snow and even running a pole though it easily caused cracking.
One interesting observation was that the snow around 8500 feet seemed less sensitive than the snow around 7500 - 8000 feet.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates