Obs-Snow Profile: Stupid Chute 3/6/2011

Observer Name:

Paradis / Brackelsberg

Observation Date:

03/06/2011

Region:

Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Brighton Perimeter
Stupid Chute

Location or Route:

Brighton - Stupid Chute

Weather

Sky:

Overcast

Precipitation:

Moderate Snowfall

Wind Direction:

Northwest

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Weather Comments:

Relatively warm and wet on the way uphill with light snow falling when we started at about 9:30am. Snow and wind increased by about 10:30am. By noon there was about 6" of new snow at higher elevations and about 4" of new snow in the Brighton parking lot.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

On more wind exposed aspects, new snow was falling on stout windboard. Although the snow was not all that deep, these areas would sluff easily. In more protected areas, the snow surface was softer. The new snow itself was mostly nice stellars and was pretty fluffy despite what felt like wet conditions.

Red Flags

Heavy Snowfall

Red Flag Comments:

We were out mostly in the morning so the new snow was not deep enough to be of concern. By tomorrow morning, this will be different. The fairly weak bond between the new and old snow, particularly where the underlying snow is firm and wind smoothed would be of concern tomorrow.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

New Snow

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Elevation:

High

Trend:

More Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

For tomorrow, the main concern will be the old-new snow bond. This seemed to vary depending on location. At the top of Stupid Chute the old snow was more firm and wind affected. This seemed to provide less bonding than slightly lower, more protected areas.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Deep Slabs

Probability:

Low

Aspect:

North

Elevation:

High

Trend:

More Dangerous

Secondary Concern Comments:

Although very, very hard to trigger by compressive tests, it is still possible to produce some some deep shears lower in the snowpack, just above the MLK crusts. The slide in Maybird illustrates that deep slab potential still exists. We found cornices pretty easy to kick and break so this and additional snow could trigger another deep slide.

Elevation:

10300'

Aspect:

North

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 35' 18.2652" N, 111° 36' 3.942" W

Observed Danger Rating:

High

Forecast Danger Rating:

Considerable

Snow Profile Location

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