Obs-Snow Profile: Park City Ridgeline 1/5/2012

Observer Name:

Jake Hutchinson

Region:

Salt Lake
Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date:

01/05/2012

Location or Route:

Park City Ridge north of 9990

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Direction:

West

Wind Speed:

Light

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Wind Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Wow, take me back to Alaska please!! I don't recall ever seeing so little snow on the PC ridge this far into winter, I also don't believe I've ever seen snow this week. Dug multiple pits across the ridge, couldn't find anything to feel good about. Skiing was awful, one turn was supportable, then break through into the facets and try to giuge your way down.

Red Flags

Cracking

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

Cracking in obvious wind drifts and collapsing on the facets, mostly localized but spooky.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

East

Southeast

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

I couldn't buy an avalanche, but I was solo and too chicken to really get on anything steep.

Elevation:

9300'

Aspect:

Southeast

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 40' 44.2056" N, 111° 36' 4.716" W

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

It took a few tries to actually isolate a column. But here is the one I finally did, it failed just setting my shovel on it

Video 1:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

small wind slab over depth hoar..I think this thin slab will hold enough weight to make this slope very exciting with the next storm

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate

Snow Profile Location

Javascript is required to view this map.