Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
12/16/2013
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Sheep Shit Ridge
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Bit more windy than I expected. Noticied a tempature inversion from the canyons parking lot to the top of 9990.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Found a bit of everything today. Sometimes would have hard wind slabs to crust to nice loose faceted snow within a 100'. The faceted snow and surface in and around the pines on N-W facing slopes skied really nice. Going to be a problem when we finally get some new snow.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The wind was strong enough today to transport some snow. Didn't observe plumes or major transport. Some areas are facets all the way to the ground, in and around pines most notably. Something to keep in the front of your mind when we get a new load.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Noticed some hard windslabs just under the slightly corniced ridges. Felt strong, but no pit to look at what is under the slab. The windslabs I observed today did not seem to be a major concern to me today, but if they were triggered it would be very bad.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Still have the very poor snow structure out there to worry about. Feel like it is not very reactive right now, but when a new load is put on it I would expect a widespread cycle.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate