Obs-Snow Profile: Grizzly Gulch 1/17/2011

Observer Name:

Matt Hart / Andrew Paradis

Observation Date:

01/17/2011

Region:

Salt Lake
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Grizzly Gulch

Location or Route:

Twin Lakes Pass

Weather

Sky:

Overcast

Precipitation:

Light Snowfall

Wind Speed:

Strong

Weather Comments:

Considerable winds with a few gusts that almost blew us down.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

High

Snow Surface Conditions:

Rain-Rime Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Snow surface was a crust formed during yesterdays (the 16th) rain event. Although Alta reported 6" of snow, it was more like 2inches or 5cm of graupel. This graupel was blown around by high winds so there was big graupel drifts in areas, but mostly bare patches of ice crust.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Red Flag Comments:

The big one was the avalanche debris on the South slope of Superior. Although there was evidence of bombing on the South slope of Emma's ridge, nothing else appeared to have slid. High winds were causing wind drifts of graupel as well.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Elevation:

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Andy and I were most interested in that Jan 8th surface hoar and if it had survived the rain event. We were in fact able to find an obvious layer of surface hoar flakes intact. Compression test wasn't impressive but the ECT propagated and as you can see in the images.. ECT14 Q2.

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 35' 35.1924" N, 111° 36' 32.4468" W

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate

Snow Profile Location

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