Observation Date
3/3/2014
Observer Name
PE2
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Alexander Basin
Location Name or Route
Alexander Basin
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Could have had a few more clouds. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sunshine. Should have applied sunscreen more often, but probably would have sweated it off. Now I look like a tomato. What little breeze there was cooled things down, temporarily.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
The old tracks were somewhat filled in. This could have been from wind deposition or maybe it snowed recently. I could not find any density differences while skinning or skiing. At the Porter Fork trail head, 9AM, the snow was saturated. Things did not get any better until around 8500’. There was a temperature crust that created minor difficulty while breaking trail. I thought I could use the old tracks to help me from breaking trail; it didn’t. Upper elevations north facing was around 12-18’ settled medium density snow. It took forever, but I found what I was looking for. The descent below 8400’ was saturated and difficult skiing. The Millcreek road was slow and saturated.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No real red flags where I travelled. The descent off of Gobblers Knob was pretty firm, until I got to about 9300’. I sawed off a cornice to test the slope and the cornice disintegrated on impact. Bounce, turn, bounce, turn. What was interesting was the debris in Alexander Basin. See photos. Wilson Glade was the primo snow. I am glad I went there for my second run.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Cornice
Problem #1 Comments
Cornices were various sizes. The one I cut was about the size of a fridge. Took some work, but popped out with energy. See photos.
Comments
1st Wave Cornice
2nd Alexander Basin
3rd Debris off rocks and cliffs. This looked to be a little old. I am pretty sure it is debris. Too chunky to have been anything else. It was like dodging mine fields. Just to the right of the main cliff bands, a debris fan is kinda visible. No visible crowns.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
