Observation: Little Water 12/19/2011

Observer Name:

Hardesty

Observation Date:

12/19/2011

Region:

Salt Lake
Mill Creek Canyon
Little Water

Weather

Sky:

Few

Wind Direction:

Northeast

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Faceted Loose

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Exceedingly weak snow. Make it a point to exercise caution even at the lower elevations once we get a good storm. Riding conditions actually pretty good. Route in from Spruces to Little Water, down the Little Water slide path (may be the last time I could ski it for the rest of the winter) - and out Mill Creek. Good enough coverage on the exit.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Faceting is a pretty cool process, particularly on the southerly aspects. In simplistic terms, the sun warms the snow just beneath the snow surface to the point of melting. The snow surface stays cool b/c it radiates enough energy into the cold clear sky. When the thin layer of melt water re-freezes to form a crust, it drives the temperature gradient into over-drive, quickly faceting the snow at the surface. Voile - radiation recrystallized snow.

See below - it initially feels like just a crust on the southerly aspects - but it's more than that. I've written their name in the faceted skiff of snow sitting just above the crust. Not a good combo - bed surface (crust), weak layer (facets) - just need a storm.

Video 1:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Weak snow abounds on nearly all aspects. Composite northerly profile from Little Water peak - there above Big Cottonwood and Mill Creek. Surface hoar noted on all elevations, and more pronounced at the mid and low elevations.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

Composite southerly profile on Little Water.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)

Catching a ride down Mill Creek - found a good bumper sticker -

Our sentiments exactly.