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Observation: Georges Bowl

Observation Date
1/16/2018
Observer Name
Stetson
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork » Georges Bowl
Location Name or Route
George's Bowl North
Weather
Weather Comments
Calm, clear and hot. T-shirt skiing in January. Solar aspects went off, damp snow and a few rollerballs on steep slopes. Most terrain with a slight tilt to the N or trees to the S stayed dry. Strong down canyon winds in the valley this morning but totally calm below ridgeline in the mountains.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments

No co/cr. Ski pen 10-15cm. Rain crust evident below 9000'. Widespread 4-5mm V in shady protected areas, I expect sun and wind decimated it elsewhere. Cracks from a few days ago still visible on steep rolls.... 1 hasty pit: NE @ 9440'; HS 120cm; weak layers above xmas snow and above ground; CT12 SC on our dirt facets at 40cm (maybe an outlier); ECTN28 down 45cm on top of xmas snow, pry-out failed very easily at the ground. Despite a concerted and repeated effort on a few steep ENE test slopes, hard ski cuts did not produce any collapsing or avalanches.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Quite a few close calls over the weekend. Interesting seeing some of the terrain people felt comfortable getting on. Bold lines skied in Days, Silver, and Cardiff, elsewhere too I'm sure. The Hallway and Powerline Ridge avalanches stand out. I would be curious to hear the reasons used to justify skiing those runs. Human Factor? Seems like its pretty easy to find the weak spot right now. Cardiac Bowl looked real nice but I wouldnt go near it. Most savvy operators I know are avoiding all shady slopes above 30*. Low(?) probability, high consequence. Considerable still IMO.

Photo of V (surface hoar) at about 9000' near Vina Flat

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