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Observation: Catherine's Pass

Observation Date
12/27/2015
Observer Name
Trent & Bruce Meisenheimer
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Catherine's Pass
Location Name or Route
Alta to Catherin's Pass
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Very nice day with little wind and slightly warmer temps. Still cold.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Very nice powder snow on all aspects at high elevations.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Despite no reports of cracking or collapsing in the backcountry the past few days, I still feel the poor snowpack structure is the trumph card. This recent avalanche proves that avalanches can still be triggered.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

I am like anyone else. I look up to different individuals in my life for advise, especially advise about the snowpack. Every mentor - friend - colleague - that I know and trust, continues to tell me that the snowpack structure is no good. We have a massive slab (3-6 feet of dense strong snow) sitting on very weak and faceted snow at the ground. It's like the new Director (Mark Staples) says, it's kindergarten science - it really is that easy to understand this problem. Slopes that face the north half of the compass that are approaching 35 degrees in steepness should be avoided.

This doesn't mean the season is over for us.... In fact, this is really good news! All we have to do is wait for this snow to eventually heal and we will have a very good snowpack in northern Utah. This past storm did wonders for our snowpack and eventually we can turn the corner to a deep homogenous (even layered snowpack). Remember deep snow is strong snow and shallow snow is weak snow.

For now, it's not the time to get after the steeper terrain, we need to give the snowpack time to breathe and adjust to its new load.

Comments

I went to look at the recently triggered slide off Rocky Point near Catherine's Pass today. A couple BIG RED FLAGS in my mind.

1. Remotely Triggered (from a distance - 300 feet away)

2. Full depth avalanche to the ground failing on faceted snow.

3. How connected the slope was - if the adjacent terrain were steep enough to avalanche this slide would of been much larger, perhaps 300 to 400 feet wide. The adjacent terrain did in fact collapse and fail, it just wasn't visible because the slope angle was not steep enough to get the snow to slide down the mountain.

This is pretty much why I do not trust faceted snow. The fact is.... this group was standing over 300 feet away when they collapsed the snowpack and triggered the avalanche. If people are triggering slopes without even being close to them - what does that tell you about skiing them.

Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable