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Observation: Scotties Bowl

Observation Date
2/7/2017
Observer Name
Luke
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Scotties Bowl
Location Name or Route
White Pine/ Scottie's
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Gusts of wind up to around 8500' then pretty constant moderate wind around 20 mph.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Couldn't really tell if any new snow fell up to about 9000', all of it was too damp to tell if anything fell from yesterday to today. Light graupel was falling with some drops of rain, so it's possible it rained on everything up to 8000' feet or so.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Heavy damp snow was on top of the lower layers which hadn't bonded well with the previous snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Started a CT test on a wind-blown rollover near the top of Scottie's, didn't finish cutting the back out before it failed around 6" of the newer, now damp snow that hasn't bonded to the old snow. I included a picture and didn't follow up with an ECT because it was a cohesive chunk that would have definitely failed pretty early on any further tests.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Below 8000' there was a marked difference in snow density, we kicked off tons of wet snow and some impressive sized roller balls. How much of an issue this will be going forward from here I'm not sure of, but if it doesn't cool down soon there will be a large possibility of wet snow and glide avalanches anywhere with a slab underneath it.
Comments
Wet loose snow across the skin track, this was from natural causes and not people. Around 8000' on a West aspect.
Failure level on the CT test that I tried to do. This was from cutting the back out before I started with the shovel taps.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High