Observation: Two Trees

Observation Date
4/13/2018
Observer Name
Glew
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Two Trees
Location Name or Route
Two Trees
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Was up skiing until Noon. Wind was stronger in the morning as dying down as I left. Snowed a few extra inches throughout my travels.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2'
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Travel was from the Alta over Cardiff Peak to Two Tree's. Then up Flagstaff to the Emma's. Snow was considerably deeper on Two Tree's than the Emma's. No reactivity in the new snow noted beside minimal surface sluffing. Right side up and great skiing. It was however a little unnerving skiing over the head blower pow down Two Trees. I would assume it should be settled out by tomorrow morning and not skiing as deep. However, my two cents is that new snow is manageable up to a certain depth. One maybe two feet max is okay when dealing with new snow instability's. Spring skiing is weird due to the ice crusts which I'm leery of. Fast moving and breaking out on lower angled slopes. Less predictable. I did not experience nor see and reactivity on the ice crust today. The only avalanche I saw was a steep north facing slope near the ridge line to the East of Upper Days. It seems to have run mid the storm and was about a foot deep and maybe a hundred feet wide.

I would expect for tomorrow more hazard on upper elevation wind loaded slopes. What I gathered today is that there is considerably more snow the higher you get. I would also assume the ice crust becomes more reactive as the snow heats up in the strong Spring Sun.

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