I began my tour at 06:40 at the Aspen Grove trailhead. Temperature was 32*F, light NW wind with moderate gusts and S-1 snowfall. In the meadow the height of snow is 35cm (14"), with the top 5cm (2") being a rain crust. Snowpack is wet and dense. The crust is supportable...but I'd be frightened to test my weight on it while skiing.

I did not venture above 8000' today as I was solo, and not willing to venture through the gully (terrain trap, even for a small slab!) up to Bob's/Primrose Overlook. Snow seemed to start to get better at around 8000', but time constraints had me turn around before getting closer to Horse Flat area. My assumption is that it's even more sensitive in the skiable zones. The skiing isn't great...no rush to get in and out of these zones with such risky conditions and lots of shrubs and trees waiting to grab you.

In a meadow at 7400' I experienced 4 collapses. Nothing as energetic as yesterday's Husky Collapse. FYI, here is my observation at Big Springs, Provo yesterday.

My first hasty pit was on a NE aspect at 7600'. This was at 07:45 and by this time it was down to 23*F. That cold front moved in.

The height of snow was 70cm (28"). The storm total was 40cm, and there was still the 5cm rain crust at this elevation. The bottom 30cm was two crusts and facets in between. The bottom layer of facets were fist hard, but moist.

Compression Test Result: CT5 SC - very energetic release with the failure down 40cm at the new/old interface.

My second pit was at 7750'. This was on an E aspect. The height of snow was 55cm, with 33cm of new snow and the bottom 22cm being a thin breakable crust, then 4cm of fist hard facets, another breakable crust, and the bottom 14cm or so being fist hard facets but moist.

Extended Column Test Result: ECTP12 down 40cm on fist hard facets from that sit on the ground. See attached video.

I noticed avalanche debris deposited in the northerly couloir between Elk Point and East Peak. There were also debris in the typical zones where East Peak sheds lose snow. I saw an active dry lose avalanche cascading over some of the East Peak cliff bands. No telling where or how it started.

Winds were generally light with moderate gusts. But wind was visibly strong at higher elevations. I could hear it well enough up higher in the alpine.

I ended the tour at 9:15 and temperature had dropped to 28*F at the trailhead.

TLDR: While the skiing is REAL rough at low elevations, and probably mid elevations too, it's GREAT snow for snowpack filling. It's dense and the cold temperatures this week will set it up nicely. We're waiting on the next big storm and then after instabilities settle, riding in this zone will be a great time! Almost there Provo locals...it's been a wait but we're getting close.

Photo 1: gully entrance to ascend to Bob's. Don't be fooled...it gets thick above this. Still lots of shrubbery.

Photo 2: Pit #2

Photo 3: Pit #2 hard hardness

Photo 4: east faces of Bob's and Sue's, UFO Bowls SE ridge in background.

Photo 5: closer look at SE ridge of UFO Bowls, upper Primrose Overlook.

Photo 6: avalanche debris in north couloir between Elk Point and East Peak.

Photo 7: Bob's east face...not quite there yet.