Pretty disgusting snowpack. It's all facets! For the moment, this is what's keeping avalanche activity to a minimum. All the energy that the snow once had has faceted out. There is no slab to speak of, it's a very "dead" snowpack. If next weeks storms materialize, the pack will spark back to life in a big way. There are so many weak layers/interfaces in the pack that it's hard to say which one will react first, but it really doesn't matter. Give the pack more than an inch of water and I won't be surprised to see slopes natural to the ground.
Primary Concern
Primary Concern:
Deep Slabs
Probability:
Low
Aspect:
North
Northeast
East
Elevation:
High
Trend:
Same
Primary Concern Comments:
The pack has had two weeks to sit and rot since the last storm system moved through. Even with warm temperatures, high elevation shady slopes have remained cool. Depth hoar is alive and well at the ground, and still reactive to testing. The faceting mechanism has essentially rotted away our slab in most locations. Foot penetration is right to the ground in most locations as well. A slab avalanche could be triggered in areas that harbor, well, slabs. (Lee sides of high elevation ridges exposed to the wind) If you find a slab somewhere, beware, it rests on a house of cards.
snow_profile_location:
Observed Danger Rating:
Low
Forecast Danger Rating:
Low
2242 West North Temple | Salt Lake City, UT 84116 | (801) 524-5304 | (801) 524-6301 Fax | Advisory Hotline: (888) 999-4019
Pretty disgusting snowpack. It's all facets! For the moment, this is what's keeping avalanche activity to a minimum. All the energy that the snow once had has faceted out. There is no slab to speak of, it's a very "dead" snowpack. If next weeks storms materialize, the pack will spark back to life in a big way. There are so many weak layers/interfaces in the pack that it's hard to say which one will react first, but it really doesn't matter. Give the pack more than an inch of water and I won't be surprised to see slopes natural to the ground.