Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!

Observation: Sundance backcountry

Observation Date
1/24/2017
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » North Fork Provo R. » Sundance backcountry
Location Name or Route
Sundance backcountry
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Intermittent light snowfall, minor accumulations.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,100'
Slope Angle
39°
Comments

Interesting snow pack - the upper thin crust formed the night of the 23rd or early morning of the 24th. At 8200', it was quite thin, seemed almost like a thin layer of damp graupel or snow had frozen onto the existing snow surface. Lower, at about 6500', it was more like a thin rain-ice crust. It will be interesting to see if this crust exists elsewhere in the Provo area mountains. Looking at 7600' and 8200', the crust was well bonded to the snow above and below. But being a crust, it will be good to keep track of it for at least a while.

The weakest snow was low density snow several inches above and a ways below the crust. Recent avalanche activity was reported on both these low density layers. This sort of new snow weak layer should strengthen over the next few days.

The "sleeper layer" was a very thin crust/graupel layer deeper at 158 cm. No results with an ECT, but a surprising Q1 with a compression test - CT27. I would think it would need a large trigger, like another slide, to trigger this layer. And don't know how widespread this is.

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