Obs-Snow Profile: Salt Lake 12/12/2010

Observer Name:

Matt Primomo

Observation Date:

12/12/2010

Region:

Salt Lake

Location or Route:

Mineral Fork West Ridge

Weather

Sky:

Broken

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Damp

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Snow surface refroze shortly after the skies cleared around noon, up above 9000ft. Thin zipper crust was noted down to about 7800ft. at 2:30pm.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wet Avalanches

Probability:

High

Aspect:

North

East

South

West

Elevation:

High

Mid

Low

Primary Concern Comments:

widespread WL cycle. Some of the steeper funnel shaped paths got a good scouring on the East facing terrain off the west ridge. Lots of roller debris.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Low

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Less Dangerous

Secondary Concern Comments:

A not so obvious surface hoar layer was found about 20cm down on a NE facing slope at 9400ft. Test scores: CT 11 Q1, and ECTN: 16. Surface hoar was 2mm and showed signs of moderate rounding. Kick turn stomps would propagate but were sluggish (maybe due to the damp nature of the slab). Partially striated and rounding basal facets were found in the bottom 20cm of the snowpack, 2-3mm. Test scores: CT 18/19 Q2 x2, and ECTX.

Elevation:

9400'

Aspect:

Northeast

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 36' 37.3284" N, 111° 41' 10.6152" W

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Close up of refrozen surface with Salt Lake in the background.

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate

Snow Profile Location

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