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Observation: Oquirrh Mountains

Observation Date
1/1/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Oquirrh Mountains
Location Name or Route
Oquirrhs, Flat Top Mountain
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold morning (0 degrees) warmed a bit in the sun not enough to dampen snow in areas traveled. Breezy at elevations >8500'.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Wanted to compare to the Wasatch snowpack but hard to correlate so here are the facts:

Below 8500', 6-7" of weak faceting snow over a very supportable frozen base.

8500 to 9000' 7-8" of same weak faceting snow.

Above 9000', very variable, generally weak, easy to punch through to the ground and hollow or bushy areas. HS <24". South aspects contained facet crust sandwiches, very variable. Somewhat supportable while skiing/skiing

Some areas of wind crusts in exposed areas above 9500'. breakable and punchy underlain by weak faceted snow. Some areas not supportable.

Areas above 9500' in somewhat wind sheltered treed areas was a bit deeper (see profile).

Overall a really thin weak snow pack not ready for prime time. Snotel site reports about normal to slightly low snow pack for the range right now.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
One recent very minor slab on an east facing aspect from a cornice drop, viewed from a distance only ran <100'. Wind was loading some west and north aspects, occasional plumes. Some localized cracking along the ridgetops. Weak snow pack is more of a red flag for the future. Overall all red flags were minor, greatest hazard is low snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

New wind slabs in exposed areas. Moderate

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Problem #2 Comments

In areas containing enough snow, based on the fact that I was not able to isolate an ECT on a NW aspect. I don't think that most areas have the energy to propagate wide.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,900'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments

Went on a mission to go ski some big south lines, mission failed due to low snow cover.

Photos:

The elusive yours truly battling rime crust (JSC photo)

Nuked snow on summit of Flat Top, looking east.

Thin cover at 9400, note that this elevation in BCC has at least 4-5' of cover.

Generally a moderate danger at most.

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