Obs-Snow Profile: Rolfson 1/27/2011

Observer Name:

Grant Helgeson

Region:

Rolfson
Huntington Canyon
Skyline

Observation Date:

01/27/2011

Snow Characteristics

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Visiting the Skyline today was like going back in time. While both the Western Uintas & Central Wasatch have received about a foot on top of the rain crust, the rain crust is totally exposed on the Skyline. The glaze covers everything, and it's not particular about aspect or elevation either. It's everywhere.

We were able to travel in S. Lake Creek, Rolfson & Staker today. Travel is very easy on the snow machines at the moment. Everywhere we went, we observed preserved surface hoar down about 25cm. For the moment, it's un-reactive. We need time and additional loading before we can finish the chapter on this notorious persistent weak layer.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

None

Probability:

Low

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

For the moment, the Skyline has a pretty "locked up" feel. But, riders should continue to ride with their beacon, shovel & probes and remember to ride slopes one at a time. Riders will also need to keep an eye on the temperature. As things begin to heat up Friday & Saturday cornice fall could be an issue.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Cornice Fall

Probability:

Low

Aspect:

Northeast

East

Southeast

Elevation:

High

Trend:

More Dangerous

Secondary Concern Comments:

Temperatures are Forecasted to jump upwards of 40 F Friday & Saturday. Riders will need to give the massive cornices a wide berth in the afternoon. You don't want one of those bad boys falling on you!

Elevation:

10000'

Aspect:

Northeast

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

39° 34' 14.4696" N, 111° 17' 10.5648" W

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

The glaze is very obvious in this photo. Basically, there is a thin translucent glaze everywhere with a few cm's of rime below. Below the rime is a pencil + crust that is 10 cm thick. In some places, the lower pencil crust is quite hard to penetrate, even with a shovel. We covered a lot of ground today & I never once broke through the pencil crust with my ski boots or sled.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

In this location the pencil crust was sporting a translucent ice lens below it. The makeup is slightly different across the Fx area, but the crust averages a hand hardness of pencil + and it's about 10 cm thick, everywhere. High elevation NE was the exception, there the crust was much less robust.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

Cornices are MASSIVE across the Skyline, full on "end of season size." We noted a few places where there was cornice fall, but none of them dug below the pencil crust.

Observed Danger Rating:

Low

Forecast Danger Rating:

Low

Snow Profile Location

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