Observer Name
Bill Nalli
Observation Date
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Avalanche Date
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » Timpanogos » Elk Point
Location Name or Route
Low Gunsight
Elevation
9,800'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2.5'
Width
100'
Vertical
3,000'
Comments
I did a double take this morning when I noticed this new avalanche low in the Gunsight path between Elk Point and Cascade Cirque. There was a previous slide that happened higher up in the path during the peak of instability around 12/17 that I reported in an observation yesterday. After looking back at my photos, this one is definitely new. The only real change in the weather was a bump in wind speeds along the highest ridges beginning around 4am on 12/20.
Comments
This is at 9800', E aspect, 40deg., 3000'vert, and about the same depth as all the others in this last cycle in the Southern Wasatch, 2.5' deep. You can see here where the previous slide in the upper Gunsight ran right through the gunners right flank of this one and did not trigger it two days earlier. The wind definitely blew some snow around since yesterday but I wouldn't call it severe.
Comments
Debris from this one above Stewarts Falls. It continued another 800' vertical from here.
Comments
Only the highest ridges were seeing strong winds today and last night. This is Cascade Peak with the Bridal Veil path in the shade. You can see a crown from 12/17 high in White Bimbo in Bunnells Fork. Wind speeds here were in the mid teens gusting into the 20's. This slide has to make me wonder just how many other slopes are hanging by a thread.
Coordinates