Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Willows

Observation Date
12/26/2013
Observer Name
PHall
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Willows
Location Name or Route
Willows
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Sunny and beautiful day hovering around freeing.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Noticed wind crust on S-SW facing upper elevation aspects ascending to the Monitors/Willows Ridgeline. Due South Apects seeing some damp/sun baked/sun crusts
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Did not notice any Red Flags upon our ascent to Willows, but when we dug a pit on a sheltered NNW facing slope we discovered the big red flags for that aspect and elevation (9500ft)
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The slab is heavier as the snow above the faceting layers is consolidating and becoming a harder slab. If it breaks, it would be a lot of weight to deal with.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
32°
Comments
Great Sunny day with good snow skied around noon down willows and back out to Soli Entry 2. Snow pit dug on safe NNW test slope, 35 degrees, shady, 9500ft. ECT produced results at 2 from shoulder, clean q1 shear, q2 directly under shovel blade. As my partner was leaving the snow pit, a loud whoompf was heard and a crack from the top of our snow pit propagated 40 feet or so down the ridge line. Slab was heavy and sheared on 35cms of really poor facets at the ground. You can see the crack where her ski was on the 4th image, and the 5th shows the propagation of that crack. We got back on top of the ridge as fast as possible.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable