Observation Date
2/1/2016
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Willows
Location Name or Route
Willow Heights
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Cold day, winds were strong all day, we did not even bother to go all the way up to the PC Ridge.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
HST of 8" at 9500' is a guess, hard to tell with all of the wind. Medium density snow was inverted sitting on the last round of light density snow from yesterday and the day before. Wind may have also increased the density of the uppermost layer in exposed areas..
At least 2" during the day while skiing with high PI at times. 1" at the car at Solitude when we returned.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
We intentionally stayed in mid elevation areas, the only observed red flags were high PI and wind loading. Some minor localized cracking in drifts along the ridge dividing Wills Hill and the Willows. Snow was scouring the north side and loading the south, made for some deeper skiing! I was surprised at the overall lack of cracking or collapsing.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Wind slabs and drifts were my primary concern. In drifted areas it was about 50/50 on isolating columns and shallow ECTs. ECTPs 1 were common in drifted areas. Most broke above a damp layer of fragments sitting on a sun crust.
Drifts up to 2' deep.
West facing Will's Hill looked very drifted in the one good look we had at about 2 pm.
Considerable hazard.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The inverted snow is likely cohesive enough to form a slab on the density inversion over the last round of low density snow.
Considerable hazard, I would imagine that this will settle out,
Enough wind action to cover all signs of tracks from this weekend in any exposed area. With the wind and new snow I would expect a natural cycle today in wind loaded areas. The loading observed makes me suspicious of any steep south aspects.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
