Observation: Pink Pine

Observation Date
1/24/2013
Observer Name
Andy Rich
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine » Pink Pine
Location Name or Route
Pink Pine, Rainbow Peak
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Temps mild and rising through the morning. Mid 30's at White Pine parking lot at 11AM. Ridgetop winds (WSW) moderate and transporting snow for sure, below ridgetop winds light.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Dense new snow sitting on old, pronounced NSFs. At 9600' N aspect I would have thought there would have been some wind loading from yesterday and perhaps some wind slab concern, but no. Only new snow and wind blown snow from this morning. New snow depth did not exceed 10cm. No cracking or slab instability observed in the AM (back at car by 11am). However, sluffing definitely increasing through the morning- skier triggered on just about every turn above 35 degrees and naturals running on terrain above 40 degrees. Dense snow not running fast or far, but fairly small sluffs packed a pretty good punch.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None