Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
3/22/2013
Observer Name
Justin Lozier
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
PI rates S1-S2 throughout the day
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Eggshell cracking w/ shallow running sluffs on high NW, cracking in all upper elevation terrain, shooting cracks on upper elevation south aspects. No collapsing observed.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Lake effect bands continue to dump snow in the Cottonwood Canyons
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Moderate to high NW winds loading NE/E/SE slopes, be wary of wind slabs in upper elevations and cross-loading on exposed NE slopes
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments
Skinned up Grizzly Gulch, skied East Bowl, skinned up West Bowl (snowpit en route), skied Main Silver, skinned up West Bowl, skied Emma Ridges back into LCC. The skiing was very good everywhere but the high NW (scoured, thin, icy). As expected, the best snow was on Main Silver, and the south was surprisingly good as well. Overall stability was good with only minor sluffing. Ski cuts reactive on NW, not reactive on NE, reactive on S (sluffing). I expect stability to decrease with added water weight and further wind slab development.
Coordinates