Obs-Snow Profile: Maybird Gulch 3/4/2011

Observer Name:

Quino Gonzalez

Observation Date:

03/04/2011

Region:

Maybird Gulch
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake

Location or Route:

Upper Maybird Gulch/NE headwall of the Pfeifferhorn/LCC

Weather

Sky:

Overcast

Precipitation:

Moderate Snowfall

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

Snow precipitation through the day, with light/moderate winds from SW and temps. of low 30's at 10000 by 1230.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions:

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Some 6 inches of new snow on wind/sun crust on NE at 10500 ft. Riding conditions were good but you would still feel the crust under the new snow.

Red Flags

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Loading

Red Flag Comments:

Some wind loading on this location; snow accumulation on a structurally suspicious snowpack.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Deep Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Elevation:

High

Trend:

More Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

On the headwall (10650 ft), the snowpack is only 120 cms. There are 50 cms. of new snow on top of the MLK rain crust, and 3 inches of graupel in between, right on top of the crust. Under the crust, there is a 20-25 cms layer of very unconsolidated graupel. The rain layer is still strong but looks like it is crumblimb. I didnt hear collapsing but decided to ski down.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Elevation:

10700'

Aspect:

Northeast

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

Observed Danger Rating:

Considerable

Forecast Danger Rating:

High