Obs-Snow Profile: Grizzly Gulch 11/15/2011

Observer Name:

Patrick Fink

Observation Date:

11/15/2011

Region:

Grizzly Gulch
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake

Location or Route:

Grizzly Gulch/Twin Lakes Pass

Weather

Sky:

Obscured

Precipitation:

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction:

West

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Weather Comments:

The cloud ceiling was low today-- may have been riming up around 10.5k'. Precipitation was ~1 cm/hr peak around 2pm.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Dense Loose

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Northerly aspects sheltered good powder (along with the lurking dragon). Valley floor and southerly aspects are wind scoured on the Western side of sub-ridges and loaded on the eastern side. Very dense wind slabs that didn't respond to kicking or slope cuts.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

A collapse was heard on a ~10 degree slope at the valley floor after venturing only a little way from the established skintrack. Kicking the rounded tops of steeper slopes would only initiate a collapse/fracture 1 ski wide with no further propagation or sliding. Practically every slope 35 degrees or steeper with NW-N-NE aspect in Grizzly Gulch has a crown at its top. Many were skier triggered (as per prior observations) and it's surprising given the terrain that the outcomes weren't worse.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Given the collapsing and test results I got, the failure of the facets above the ground or above the sometimes-present melt/freeze crust under the load of 11/12-13/11 storm snow remains the greatest hazard.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

Northeast

East

Southeast

Elevation:

Mid

Low

Trend:

More Dangerous

Secondary Concern Comments:

The wind slabs are growing in size and in prevalence. However, they're ending up on top of the ground or wind-scoured snow for the most part, so they're pretty stubborn.

Elevation:

10000'

Aspect:

West

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 35' 36.1536" N, 111° 36' 34.4556" W

Observed Danger Rating:

Considerable

Forecast Danger Rating:

Considerable

Snow Profile Location

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