Observation: Monitors

Observation Date
3/7/2014
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Monitors
Location Name or Route
Monitors, PC Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Cool with the sun poking out now and then, no wind to speak of. Stayed cool most of the day but when the sun did come out you could definetly feel the heat. Increasing instability showers in the afternoon with a lowering cloud deck around 2:00pm.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow consisted mostly of graupel, about 3 inches at solitude increasing to 5 inches in West Monitor. SE facing went off by 12:00pm, hard to believe but the upper elevation due S was still dry on my exit at 2:30pm. Snow on the north end of the compass was creamy sitting on a spongy smooth base with no old tracks.

Comments

Wanted to get back and ski the Monitors before it got too late in the season. Both South and West Monitor were smooth with a spongy underlying base, little to no sluffing was noted even in the steepest terrain. The new snow or should I say graupel was well bonded to the old surface, did note where it had rolled down off the steeper terrain into the lower angled portion of the slope. No red flags today not even heat related issue, no cracking or collapsing, and some of the best skiing all year in my opinion. Photos.

Minor sluffing in the steepest terrain.

Old crown almost gone in West Monitor.

Graupel rolling down to the lower angle of the slope.

Still some large cornices on the ridge line.

Good skiing.

Cloud deck dropping around 2:00pm.

Tomorrow might have an increased chance of wet activity if the sun shows its face.

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