Observation Date
12/27/2025
Observer Name
Sam Kapacinskas
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Butler Fork » Butler Basin
Location Name or Route
Butler Basin
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Tour was between 0730 - 1230. Predominately overcast skies with a few stretches of sun popping out for 30ish minutes at a time with sky becoming broken. Winds were generally lights but gusted to moderate at times along the ridgelines at 9k with visible transport. Predominately calm winds in the basin. Snowed S2 for majority of tour. Butler Fork TH (7,140') had 9cms of new snow at 0730 & 18cms of new snow at 1230.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
9"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Uphill travel was slippery with 23 cms of new snow (9k') sitting on top of the stout CERC. If you put any incline in the skin track or were traveling cross-slope it was very easy to slip. Downhill travel was enjoyable despite the CERC below the new snow. You could feel the bottom in the deepest part of every turn. Scratchy. However, with the low snow coverage the CERC helped keep you off the low tide hazards. The new snow has not yet consolidated with several point releases observed along the rock cliff bands at the top of Butler, fanning out and running 200'. All things considered, stoked to have some pow back in the Wasatch!
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments
Dug at 9040 on a NE slope in Butler. Quite the crust sandwich starting at 23cms down to 35cms. CT 13 & ECTN 23 on the bottom 10cms. The facets at the bottom of the pit were wet and could be consolidated into a snowball.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Snow Pilot URL
