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Observation: 10420

Observation Date
1/23/2017
Observer Name
Wilson, Slack, Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
Guardsman, 10420 ridge
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Could have surely guessed at the avalanche conditions from home (sustained 20+mph winds, heavy precip), but would have missed a healthy pounding. Good old fashioned weather out there.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Up-side-down snowpack with higher density snow landing on the weekend's relative fluff. Wallowing fun in the trees but wind hammered along the ridge. While skinning, thick upper layer holds you until the final weight transfer...glad for our unambitious destination.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Collapse noted by all three on the tour. Some cracking in wind affected snow to the leeward of ridge line. Several recent naturals, and fractures under cornice fall. Wind blowing to beat the band.
Comments

Loading and unloading, all in one picture! 10-14" crown, 70' wide, broke where slope becomes steeper.

Cracking in stiff wind affected snow.

Wind: Streaming off Reynolds, screaming across ridge, and seamlessly erasing tracks. "Time lapse" pictures taken 2 minutes apart.

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