Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!
Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Maple Hollow

Observation Date
2/28/2017
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Southwest » Pahvant Range » Maple Hollow
Location Name or Route
Pahvants - Maple Hollow
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Broken sky with some insatbility showers, trace of snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

HST=6" at the 6,400' trailhead and 8" at 8,400'. This is more than the 4" reported at the Pine Creek and Bobs Hollow Snotel sites.

Some damp snow on the road at my exit, crust forming in shady spots.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Wind slabs were present on the NW facing ridge I skied and skinned. Generally buried below 4-8" of storm snow. I would guess these formed as the wind picked up Sunday night into Monday. Hard to isolate the wind slabs in many locations on slopes exceeding 30 degrees, they broke without a clean shear and seemed to lack energy.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Moderate Hazard in this area. I walked on top of a lot of supportable wind slabs without any cracking or collapsing.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Wet slabs will be an issue if the sun comes out. Southerly aspects.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
8,000'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

Upper snow profile showing results of ECT. ECTP 8, Q2/3 , 8" below surface, at the base of a 2" thick 1 finger wind slab. Failed on a slightly damp low density layer. Storm snow from the last 2 storms above the crust is 16" at this location. Glove is sitting on layer that failed. Trail breaking a bit of an effort.

Photo below, instability showers.

Photo below: Terrain.

Overall I would say a moderate danger, consistent with what I saw on Sunday, the new snow does not appear to have increased the hazard in this area.

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