Observation: Flanigans 4/8/2010

Observer Name:

Greg Gagne

Region:

Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Silver Fork
Flanigans

Observation Date:

04/08/2010

Location or Route:

East Bowl Silver Fork -> Flanagan's

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

Cool in the morning and quite warm skiing out at noon. Occasional gusty winds from S/SW. Though with windward aspects crusted, no fresh drifts were developing.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Snow surface is a mixed bag with widespread sun crusts on all but due north where you will find dense powder and some wind drifts and wind-affected snow at mid and upper elevations.

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments:

No red flags.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wet Avalanches

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

East

Southeast

South

Southwest

West

Elevation:

High

Mid

Low

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Snow surface was sloppy (but skiable) skiing out south & west aspects at noon, but apart from a few rollerballs, no large wet activity was noted.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Less Dangerous

Secondary Concern Comments:

We did find some wind drifts along the Silver Fork rdigeline as well as at some mid-elevation locations. However, we ski cut them pretty aggressively and they were not sensitive at all, although I do imagine there may be a rogue wind drift somewhere in the range.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

On upper-elevation north-facing slopes, the hazard is mostly Low. Ski cuts and several quick pits show a well-consolidated and supportable dense slab that was not sensitive to any stability tests. The biggest concern I would have on these aspects would be recent wind drifts, although we were also not finding them sensitive. Did see several old crowns from slides presumably during the storm on Tuesday, but all had mostly filled in.

Am thinking skiing may still be good on Friday on steeper, upper-elevation north aspects.