Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading
Blown away at how far the debris ran into the Cutler Creek from the early January avalanche cycle. Roughly 2700' vertical drop from the BL-Willard ridgeline starting zone and nearly 1.5 miles long. See GAIA pin drop.
Note fir(?) raked and entombed by the avalanche in Cutler Creek.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Went to look at the moose-triggered avalanche in the <a href="https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/74438">Birthday Bowls</a>, as reported by Ron Gleason. Slab was soft to hard, 12-18" deep and 250' across, failing on decomposing stellars, facets (and smattering of small diam surface hoar) formed during last week's brief weather window. See photos below. There was no crust at the bed surface. Possibly the same layering as the Chilly Peak avalanche further south. </p> <p>Tests proved inconsistent, although full propagation on half of the ECTs. No collapsing or cracking noted. </p> <p> </p>
Solars are crusted, thawing in the midday sun. Some wind crusts noted in the higher elevations. The protected shady aspects hold excellent riding conditions - the new snow is recrystallizing and weakening under the clear and cold.