Observation: Park City Ridgeline 1/25/2012

Observer Name: 
Willis Richardson
Region: 
Salt Lake
Park City Ridgeline
Observation Date: 
01/25/2012
Location or Route: 
United States
Weather
Sky: 
Clear
Weather Comments: 

Clear with no wind. Temperature around 24 degrees.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions: 
Powder
Snow Characteristic Comments: 

Same 2 feet of powder and facets below.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flag Comments: 

Bottomless collapsing.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern: 
Persistent Slabs
Probability: 
Considerable
Aspect: 
North
Northeast
East
Southeast
Southwest
West
Northwest
Elevation: 
High
Mid
Low
Trend: 
Same
Primary Concern Comments: 

I left the Canyons out the 9990 exit and skirted the trees facing south just below the ridge line maybe 50 yards below the summit south facing above Desolation Lake. There was no cracking or collapsing but probing yielding the same weak layers. I made no attempt to ski down to the lake. There were several large cracks below the runs down to the lake. I took some pictures of the ridge across the lake which is some of the most stable in the area. It is hard to believe the entire ridge collapsed.

snow_profile_location: 
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Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)
IMGP0693.JPG
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

The one of the avalanches ran into the middle of the lake but you cannot see it from the photo.

IMGP0692.JPG
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)
IMGP0691.JPG
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)
IMGP0698.jpg
Observed Danger Rating: 
High
Forecast Danger Rating: 
High

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