Observation: South Approach to Garden City Bowls

Observation Date
3/2/2014
Observer Name
Weed
Region
Logan » Swan Flats Area » South Approach to Garden City Bowls
Location Name or Route
South Exit Line
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Mostly cool with the cloud cover
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
23"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Nice deep new snow, but not exactly powder, more like well whipped mashed potatoes. It was easy to trigger pin wheels and roller balls.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
No obvious signs of instability
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

I found a few shallower often scoured areas near the ridge-line where I could easily poke my pole into weak faceted snow and the ground, but this is not a widespread situation. In most areas, the weak faceted snow from earlier in the season is pretty deeply buried and now apparently well bridged by stronger snow. There are probably some exceptions though, and the persistent weakness was reactivated by the large new water load from this weekend's storm in some areas.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

These were well bonded and fairly stable where I was in the eastern Bear River Range. It's common for rapid healing of this type of new snow instability this time of year.

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