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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
3/2/2013
Observer Name
Brackelsberg / Paradis
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Green Slope
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A warm day in the mountains. The pit was done at 11:30 AM and the top 5cm of the snowpack was already saturated.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
We didn't spend much time on the south aspects, but I would expect a lot of roller-balling by early afternoon. We witnessed some roller balls, but not wide spread at the time when we were on the south aspects.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

With the amount of saturated snow and the easy ECT we had 16cm deep, wet slides could be an issue if Sunday is warm prior to the storm.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Based on the several layers of hard ice, and out moderately easy ECT 68 cm deep, there is still a risk of a deep slab. It would take a lot of load to trigger this slab and I don't know if a single skier on the slope could do it.

Snow Profile
Aspect
South
Elevation
10,100'
Slope Angle
29°
Comments

We were surprised at the easy ECT results we got at both 16cm down and 68cm down. Both fractures were on a layer of facets with a layer of ice sitting on top of them. The snow was definitely a 'crust sandwich'.

It was my first day using the Ullr Labs iPhone application and I was very impressed. I was able to get the entire pit data recorded in about the same time as it would take with pen and paper. I would definitely recommend the app.

Coordinates