Obs-Snow Profile: UFO Bowls 1/19/2011

Observer Name: 
Patterson
Region: 
Provo
Provo Canyon
North Fork
UFO Bowls
Observation Date: 
01/19/2011
Location or Route: 
Aspen Grove to UFO Bowls
Elevation: 
9900'
Aspect: 
Northeast
Slope Angle: 
36
UFO Bowl  3.jpg
snow_profile_location: 
United States
40° 24' 59.2848" N, 111° 37' 49.8504" W
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Snow Profile above was at right around 10,000'.  Rain crust from 1/16-1/17 not as pronounced in this area as it is elsewhere, likely due to area being in shadow of Timp, NW flow and higher elevation.  3mm SH still in tact below the lower crust, but not as reactive as I've seen, with only CTM results and Q2 planes.  Possible that there's not enough of a slab here yet for this layer to be energized.  Tilt Tests pulled out weakness nicely.

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Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

2 layered crust at 10,000' UFO Bowl #3.  2 layers likely from rain/rime on the 16th, followed by cooler temperatures overnight with graupel falling, and then warming temps on the 17th with more rain. 

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Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

Pit wall at 10,000'.  2 layer crust evident as well as a lower SH layer that was not reactive.

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Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)

Perhaps the most pertinent thing seen today in the UFO Bowls area was collapsing of the rain crust on E/ESE aspects between 9400' and 9800'.  The rain crust here was stout and ~8-10cm thick.  Multiple collapses where you could feel the snow surface drop beneath your skis.  Weak layer below the rain crust was 3-4mm SH with graupel mixed in.  Likely that the storm that buried our SH layers in tact all fell as graupel in this area.  no bueno. 

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Observed Danger Rating: 
Moderate
Forecast Danger Rating: 
Moderate
Snow Profile Location
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