Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!
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 Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
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: Home Run

Observation Date
11/27/2014
Observer Name
Jake Hutchinson and Dylan Freed
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Home Run
Location Name or Route
Homerun
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments

Overcast skies and warm temps made the snow surface a mess of moist, dry and wind hammered. Skin glopping was an issue

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Things seemed stable but stability tests and structure said otherwise. We kept the angles low
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

1 meter slab sitting on facets = bad news! I think our test results showed the sensitivity of the facets when the slab strength (bridging?) is removed from the equation. I think these avalanches are hard to trigger but hard to manage if you find one

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Saw evidence of roller balls and small wet sluffs - minor but they're out there

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,300'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments

Video

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