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Observation: Patsy Marly

Observation Date
12/16/2015
Observer Name
Greg G.
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Patsy Marly
Location Name or Route
North Patsy Trees
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Snowing lightly throughout the morning.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
About 4-5 inches over night sitting atop roughly 32" of the new snow slab. Total snowpack depth at pit location 40"
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Several suspect layers within the current storm cycle slab. 3 consectutive tests failed initially at ect8 with a q1 shear (at 12in depth from surface). Removing that failure we then received propagation at ect11 and ect13 with a q1 shear at 24inches depth.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
This failure (ect11 & 13 @ 24in) is of great concern as the 'step down' likely hood is very high should anything move. Which judging from current weather, tonights predicted storm, and the friday/saturday breezy front coming through we're going to see some action.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Beneath our storm slab are 2 faceted layers that have yet to activate. They're areas of concern, and could be our front runners for persistent slab issues in the coming weeks.
Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
25°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates