Planned Website Outage: The UAC website will be down for maintenance on June 17 from 2:00 - 7:00 PM MT.
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 Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
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: Soldier Peak

Observation Date
1/15/2018
Observer Name
T Diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Soldier Peak
Location Name or Route
mid BCC; Reynolds and Soldier Peaks
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
very mild
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

the north/east sheltered terrain is getting surface hoar development in protected areas. Hopefully the next storms will have enough wind to blow that away

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I did a quick hand pit in an open but relatively sheltered zone at about 9000 feet trying to act like I didn't know any history of the snowpack. I couldn't isolate the 2 plus foot deep column before it slid off at the ground; if I didn't know any better I'd say it's a pretty unstable environment.
Comments

It's probably a good thing the last storm came in wet and created a bit of a "base" or our skis/boards would be sinking through the facet fest just as my boots do in transitions and my poles do if I push on them at all.

If I was an avalanche I'd be pretty excited for any storms that come in for the foreseeable future.

When we will see the end of this plague? February, March....December?

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