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Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date
12/1/2014
Observer Name
Wilson
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch to Brighton via Patsey/Black Bess
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Drove up-canyon through fog, in sunshine by late morning.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
An inch of stellar flakes (mixed with some graupel?) over hard 3cm melt-freeze crust on southern half of compass. Creamy nice skiing on the north side. Melt-freeze crust and wind crusts in exposed areas.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Quieter. One minor collapse on gradual NW facing slope might actually have been the sound of distant control work... Wind blowing new snow to leeward sides: pillows and sculptures.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Main (and well documented) concern is on high, steep, NE through NW; terrain I avoided touring alone. Curious about the less discussed south-facing snowpack, I poked around on Black Bess. I was surprised to get an extended column to propagate several inches above the ground--just below the storm slab--on the 1st and 2nd (albiet slightly-too-hard) elbow taps of two separate ECTs. Seemed to be propagating along a thin facet layer where the bottom cement interfaced with the rounding/settling grains above. What, if anything, does this mean?
Snow Profile
Aspect
South
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments
Don't blink! Block's movement on hit #11 is almost imperceptible.
Video
Waiting for snow in Wolverine Cirque.
Gratuitous photo of 11/26 Patsey Marley slide with a dusting of new snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates