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Observation: Murdock Peak

Observation Date
1/1/2015
Observer Name
Brackelsberg
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Murdock Peak
Location Name or Route
Murdock Peak
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Wind was calm in the valleys, but blowing strong on the ridges. It was very cold in the valleys.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
There was a wind crust on all open aspects that we crossed (which were mostly north and south). The snow in the tree sheltered slopes was still very good.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
This was the poorest snowpack I had dug in this season. It was downright scary what we had for results in the shallow snowpack.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
With the thin snowpack in this area and the large depth of facets above the ground, our biggest fear in this area was the facets. Based on our CT and RB results compared to our ECT, we felt there was a high likelihood that something could break around 55cm down and then step down to the ground. This would have been an very large avalanche. Murdock Bowl has several steeper roll overs with shallower snow (as evidenced by grass sticking up). This could most likely be a trigger point.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
With the wind slab present on the slope, this could present a problem. Where we dug, the slap was thing (2-3cm) and less worrisome. My assumption would be that the slab would have been much thicker up high (it was on the ridge). We did not venture onto the upper slope so we don't know for sure what the wind slab was like higher up.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,900'
Slope Angle
23°
Comments
I was surprised at just how weak the snowpack in Murdock Bowl was. Murdock Bowl is a place I dig a couple pits every year in the same location. The snowpack being weaker than I expected and weaker than I remembered in prior years got me interested in how this year's snow compared to prior years. I lined up the pit profiles (red lines are 0 and 100 cm depths) I had readily accessible and found 5 since 2010. Comparing these profiles, * It appears that my tests today were easier to trigger at deeper depths * The early 2010 snowpack was deeper than we have now, how quickly I had forgotten how much early season snow we had in 2010 * There are more and thinner hard layers in this year's snowpack than any prior years (a structural lemon noted in this year's results). In the prior years, the harder layers were much thicker which likely provided some bridging of weaker layers lower down. I would like to continue to compare these various profiles and would welcome any feedback.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates