February 3
Area:
Millcreek
Location:
Bowman to Yellow Jacket to toots to boot to Wilson glade to Thousand springs chute.
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
6200’-10’000’, angles to 45° all aspects but south facing.
Avalanches:
Naturals: off the east facing Mineral ridge into old snow, upper Broads back bowl ne facing pocket into older snow. Both observed from Wilson peak.
Ski cut slide upper Wilson glade ne facing near 10’000’ 50’ wide ran around a hundred feet.
Collapse failure on a crust facet sandwich. Up to about 18” deep.
Ski cut slide, Thousand springs chute. Shallow wind load. Ran on facets gouging into old snow and running almost full track. Because the gully narrows, it was only about 20’ wide.
Slopes skied:
Toots to Boot, Wilson glade far left through the aspen and the Thousand springds chute.
Snow surface and conditions:
Variable from sandboxing into old snow to hard slab wind crust. Sheltered areas out of the wind remain marginally supportable. Wind drifting extends into mid and lower elevations on mainly east facing.
Weather:
Partly cloudy to overcast. Moderate temperatures. Winds continue from the west, with gust into the 20+ mph range.
Evaluation:
Winds have created active drifting at almost all elevations. Cornices are sensitive. Slides can be initiated breaking into older snow layering from the weak and faceted pre existing old snow. Doubt these will heal up over night and some have enough of a load to pack some punch with a ride and or burial possible.
© wowasatch.com