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Observation: Patsy Marly

Observation Date
12/4/2013
Observer Name
Cam Mackenzie
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Patsy Marly
Location Name or Route
Patsy Marley
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Cold and calm. -8°f at the grizzly gulch trailhead at 0900. Signs of loading from recent west winds along twin lakes pass.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Didn't venture into exposed higher terrain due to time constraints. Sheltered north facing slopes held around 30cm of right side up storm snow from the past few days. No sign of loading or fetch within pit area. Dug full depth pit to see how storm snow was sitting on the near surface facets. Although it was failing easily on the near surface facets and had potential for soft slabs, I was more alarmed by the failures on the larger facets (not quite depth hoar) and potential for deeper avalanches.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A bit more of a load and we will be right in in the bulls-eye for human triggered facet avalanches as Andy Paradis's analysis displays. Did a full temperature profile and was very surprised with the extreme gradient within the pack. Some cracking was observed while breaking trail and stomping on test slopes. No collapses felt or heard.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
As stated before, a bit more of a load and we could be seeing widespread failures on these facets
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Alta Mt Baldy data from MESOWEST shows consistent ~15-20mph winds from the W-NW. Good cornice development along Patsy Marley into Wolverine Cirque. I suspect that on exposed E facing slopes, slabs are beginning to form.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,300'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments
Facets from the 19-38cm layer
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates