Obs-Snow Profile: Red Pine Gulch 1/26/2011

Observer Name:

d Jackson

Region:

Salt Lake
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Red Pine Gulch

Observation Date:

01/26/2011

Location or Route:

Red Pine

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Speed:

Calm

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Low

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Surface conditions varying from bouncy boot buckle pow in sheltered terrain to dust on the MLK crust in windward areas. Some fresh SSL was observed to the lee of the N ¼ (isolated to the immediate lee of features and generally not reactive to slope cuts). Some heating evident on solar aspects with a few small and loose radiation events observed out of steep outcrops of the S ¼ - these running only within the 25 Jan HST).

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Elevation:

High

Primary Concern Comments:

Not much evidence of the 8 Jan SH layer outside of upper elevation N and E quarter zones
with quick pits elsewhere not revealing any obvious persistent layers. A different story above
10,000ft on the NE1/4- pits revealed a classic layer of 4-6mm SH. Structure weak with an easy
5 for 5 on the lemon scale. Strength was highly variable (based mainly on the burial depth
of the weak layer and the thickness of the overlying MLK crust). Propagation potential was
incredible though with tests producing some of the most energetic failures I've seen (could
swear I saw a mushroom cloud burst from the extended column). No evidence of significant
natural activity from the past 48hrs but there looked to be a widespread NA cycle from last week
on the Redpine/ Maybird ridge with numerous D2- D3s- especially out of steep (36-42 degrees),
NE- NNE facing terrain above 10,000ft (especially adjacent to rocky features).

Elevation:

10400'

Aspect:

Northeast

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 32' 10.7088" N, 111° 41' 38.58" W

Snow Profile Location

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