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Observation: USA Bowl

Observation Date
12/14/2015
Observer Name
Eric Shmookler
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » USA Bowl
Location Name or Route
USA Bowl
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Went up to USA Bowl today. Depth of new snow at the upper elevations of Big Cottonwood seemed about the same or less than the depth of new snow at my house in Sandy. About 7 inches of new snow mid-day at USA Bowl. Low density, very little wind effect. Snowpack was not very supportable, especially near bushes. The old snow was highly faceted and did not provide much of a supportable under-surface. Pretty difficult trailbreaking.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Numerous hand-pits on west-facing and south-facing USA Bowl showed 7 inches of new snow with lots of weak, sugary basal facets at the ground. I did not notice any melt-freeze crusts within the solar aspects at this location. Performed two hasty extended column tests. Both failed on isolation.
Comments
Photo: Tracks on west-facing portion of USA Bowl. Grass still poking through...
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable