Observation: Albion Basin 1/5/2012

Observer Name:

Robbins

Region:

Albion Basin
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake

Observation Date:

01/05/2012

Location or Route:

Albion Basin

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Weather Comments:

Clear, calm, and warm. It was a spring-like day in the mountains.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Snow surface was the mixed bag of everything but dry, new snow.

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments:

No collapsing, although I was traveling in a heavily-used area.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Primary Concern Comments:

Faceting of the snowpack continues on all aspects. Every metaphor has already been used to describe the weak snow on the ground, so I won't try to think of another.

Pit at 9500', N facing, previous wind loading earlier in the season:

~100 cm HS, facets and crusts top to bottom, no real slab present.

CTM, Q1.5, 20-30 cm down, facets below a crust.

CTH, Q3, 10 cm above the ground, facets above a crust.

ECTN 13, 20-30 cm down. (Take this with a grain of salt...)

With added weight (and energy) from snow and/or wind, look for a new round of ECTPs and avalanches!

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)

Pockets of Considerable remain on northerly aspects, although today's warm temperatures probably helped things 'heal'. Low hazard on S facing terrain.

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate