Observation: Flanagans

Observation Date
12/19/2014
Observer Name
cammackenzie
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » Flanagans
Location Name or Route
East Bowl -> Flanagans
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Scattered clouds, light west wind- no snow transporting observed.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Southerly aspects held a slight sun crust with a few inches of loose new snow atop it. Moving around the compass onto northerly aspects held a few inches of new snow and loose near surface facets. Within sheltered areas, pockets of ~1cm surface hoar still exist.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No real concerns for stability today. I expect that to change this weekend as we potentially put 2+ inches of water onto the current snowpack and tip the scale towards high danger and widespread instability especially on north-ne aspects
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments
Poor structure but little to no energy or propagation potential. No noticeable slab potential.
Another pit just around the corner into flanagans on a more northerly aspect and slightly slower elevation (9600'). Much worse structure than on the NW aspect in east bowl. Larger and more developed depth hoar. Still no cohesive slab or propagation
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates