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Observation: Argenta

Observation Date
1/26/2016
Observer Name
Stetson
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D South » Kessler » Argenta
Location Name or Route
Argenta
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Splitter
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Great powder skiing. A few density changes in the storm snow
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Skied north facing today to stay off of solar aspects.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Definitely more in your face than the persistent slab problems we're currently seeing. Fairly reactive on steeper slopes. ECT6-10 with no propagation on the density breaks in the new snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Did 2 ECTs on N Facing snow at about 9000'-9400'. After 10 from the shoulder with no results I was able to get Q1-2 shears on multiple facet layers deeper in the snowpack. My guess is that activating these facets would take a large load or hitting just the right spot near a convexity (check out Avalanche:Argenta). This weekend will be interesting if the forecast verifies.
Comments
Got up to the Argenta headwall before turning around today. Observed yesterday's fresh avalanche east of whitesnake on gobbler's, along with another one on the east side of the whitesnake drainage (probably only storm snow) that has effectively flushed that entire gully system since last thursday. We saw no recent avalanches in the Argenta drainage on the way up. I was expecting to see more activity to the west after we crested the headwall (especially after looking into Cardiff yesterday morning), but I only observed a few small slab avalanches in upper Mineral and Broads (Blue Ice, Diving Board). I assume there was less snow/loading closer to the city during the last storm. Picture of Gob's below. Again, photo quality sucks.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable