Observation: Claytons 1/7/2012

Observer Name:

brandondodge

Region:

Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Claytons

Observation Date:

01/07/2012

Location or Route:

Clayton's -10,420 into Guardsmans pass

Weather

Sky:

Overcast

Precipitation:

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction:

North

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

Light snow falling for most of the day

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Low

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Experiencing alot of collapsing and "bath tub rings". South- North half of the compass, in low angle terrain

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

Our group of FUAC BC 101 students experienced an major collapse on the ridge leading to Clayton's Peak from 10,420. We stopped and preformed tests there. This is a wind-loaded Southeast facing slope about 10,100ft. Our test consistantly failed CT8,Q1, ECT12, Q1 failing on faceted snow just below a stout dirty wind slab. The collapse we experienced fractured the corniced ridge all the way the the ground, but did not move. This loaded area also produced CT and ECT results just above the ground, upon resuming tests after first failure. This area is about 100 yards East (downridge) of Evelyn and Wyatts cornice drops a day of two earlier.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Elevation:

High

Primary Concern Comments:

Snowpits were pretty consistant with 70-80 cm in most areas. Extremely weak, faceted, tired, beat-on, broken snow. Capped with a slight rain crust in places and a wind slab everywhere we looked. Lacking strenth and structure in most places, but starting to add a load slowly over the weak layers. However, the test mentioned above (Clayton's Ridge) showed increased energy, strenth and structure perhaps a sign of things to come with more weight and wind

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

We even managed to get in a little sagebrush survival "training". Sagebrush skis better than granite just for the record

Observed Danger Rating:

Considerable

Forecast Danger Rating:

Considerable