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Observation: City Creek Peak

Observation Date
1/3/2016
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Southwest » Tushers » Beaver River » City Creek Peak
Location Name or Route
Tushers - City Creek Peak
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Balmy day compared to the last two! Strong south winds were drifting snow in some md elevation areas off of the ridge tops. A couple of squalls with increased wind and light snow flurries in the sfternoon. High peaks were obsurced by the time I got down Beaver Canyon at 5 pm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mixed bag, powder in sheltered shady locations. Loose dense snow on some SW aspects. Surface hoar in some areas, minor. Some wind crust in exposed areas. Some south aspects had a slight zipper crust, minor. Was surprised at the amunt of soft snow after the last wind event.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
1 semi-recent avalanche on the NE side of City Creek Peak, the crown has blown in but the area looked too thin not to have run. Photo below, flat light, included more to highlight terrian. Lots of wind loading including the skin track 900' below the ridgetop. Poor snow pack structure includes basal facets and I am including a weak snow surface that might not support a lot of weight. Some cracking all of it localized and near the ridge top.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Wind slabs from the south winds today

Localized Moderate hazard.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Basal facets in this area which includes a thin (75 cm) snow pack.

Moderate hazard. The overlaying slab does not seem to have much eneragy and is decomposing.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,900'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

Photo of pit and basal facets below. The zone between 10 and 30 cm may be a decomposing crust that has faceted. It seemed too firm to be just facets. some decomposing graapel in the mid pack. I was surprised the snow pack was not deeper in this area

Photo below slide path on NE side of City Creek peak, the crown has been blown in.

I think the initial hazard with new snow will be the weak surface snow. I feel that it might take a significant load to reactivate the basal facats.

Generally a moderate hazard, I did not see anything alarming.

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