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Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
2/28/2013
Observer Name
AAI Level 2 - Konigsberg
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
PC Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Winds moderate at main ridge, calm elsewhere. No evidence of snow being transported.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Greenhousing enough to soften some crusts in areas that were off main ridge and sheltered from wind. Low density snow on north and northeast aspects. Surface hoar from yesterday very patchy.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Recent avalanches on southerly aspects in last 3 days. Noted an avalanche on north facing at 8900ft probably from 2/26 (see avalanche obs). Poor structure on southerly aspects. Facet crust sandwich, depth of slab on top of 1st crust varied from 30cms to 5cms.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Shorter field day today. Targeted southerly slopes today to find out if weak layer of concern (facets underneath 1st crust) would propagate a fracture. Results were fifty/fifty ECTN and ECTP SC. The crust above the weak layer was up to 2" thick so quite the bridge. The slab above the crust is 30cms at most and varies quite a bit in depth. Surprised by avalanche noted on northerly aspect at 8900' failing on facets. No other evidence suggesting that there is a continous faceted layer beneath latest storm snow that is capable of propagating a fracture. An outlier but something to keep in mind. No concerns for wind slabs or wet avalanches in areas travelled today. Something to note comparing our side of the range to the Cottonwoods...since 2/21 Alta Guard had received about 40" of snow with 2" of SWE. Canyons has received about 15" of snow with a little less then 1" of SWE. With little windloading and less then an inch of water any weaknesses in our snowpack (in non-skier compacted areas which are few and far between) have still not been tested with a good load.