Obs-Snow Profile: Argenta 12/15/2011

Observer Name:

Evelyn

Region:

Argenta
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake

Observation Date:

12/15/2011

Weather

Sky:

Few

Wind Speed:

Calm

Weather Comments:

Beautiful day above the smog.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Faceted Loose

Snow Characteristic Comments:

This is not a reccommonded tour - my goal was to look at the faceting snow pack at a variety of low to mid elevations. Luckily I found remenants of an ancient skin track, which reduced wallowing going uphill considerably. Snowshoes up and down may have been a better mode of transportation.

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments:

Facets top to bottom in most locations, with the upper 6" consistently have some of the weakest of the weakest snow. My concern is when it snows, we'll all want to head to the mid and lower elevations where there wasn't previously "enough snow to ride or make turns". Unfortunately, there is enough coverage of weak snow that these elevations have the potential to be just as dangerous as the upper elevations once it snows.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Loose Snow/Sluffing

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Southeast

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

More Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

Sluffs will continue to get larger, and entrain all the way down the path.

Elevation:

7100'

Aspect:

Northwest

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 38' 22.7364" N, 111° 40' 29.982" W

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

A representative spot from about 7,100 feet, where the entire snow pack is one sort of facet or another. The "layers" are old crusts that are now crumbly, fist hard facets, just holding together a bit more than else where.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Steep, lower elevation slopes have plenty of coverage to have continuous weak layers in some of the more open spots, and aren't really "anchored" effectively. Small, steep open slopes, combined with terrain traps, such as gullies or flat terrain where the snow can pile up have the potential to be dangerous in the future.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

A bit higher up, approximately 8,500', the lower part of the pack was 4 finger hardness. Still faceted, though. And often a few feet away, in a thinner spot, the snow was back to all fist hardness. Consistent with he lower elevations, the weakest snow was near the surface.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)

Where it's dirt now may be the best places to to be once it snows again.

Snow Profile Location

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