Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Significant avalanche cycle in the Provo mountains january 4 overnight into january 5. Many aspects and elevations; generally size 2 to 3.5</p>
Plow triggered side cut slides to the ground or to the facets around the 12/16 rain crust.
Natural or sympathetic 2' deep and 250' wide on ESE in lower Primrose Cirque 7500' or so .
- another view of the persistent slab avalanche; possibly natural; possibly sympathetic to natural off the UFO Bowl/Primrose ridge
- Primrose Cirque would have been a death trap overnight: naturals out of NE chute of Elk Point overrunning the standard hiking trail; and further up-canyon an ESE slide path takes out small trees and running over toward the other debris from Elk Point.
- Theater in the Pines avalanche path - debris runs to within a few hundred yards of the aspen grove parking lot.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>These went natural, remote, and sympathetic last night into today. ESE to North aspects generally below 7500'. Up to 1 to 2 to 2.5' deep and 100' wide running on 12/16 facet above rain crust combo. I collapsed a slope at 6400'. All in uncompacted terrain. 2cm of 4F damp facets above the Dec 16 crust. Note structure with facets at the base. </p> <p>Above 7500', the avalanches seemed to be all about the new snow with a graupel layer prominent 18-24" down...or on the low density snow from earlier in the week. Many aspects. Graupel layer clearly observed in profile</p>
Heavy but rode well.