Observation: No Name Bowl

Observation Date
1/1/2019
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » No Name Bowl
Location Name or Route
No Name Bowl
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold and clear with light N winds on the ridge line maybe still a bit of E in there.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Powder in non wind affected terrain, wind slabs, wind crust and sastrugi in wind exposed locations. The new snow is resting on a pile of facets to the ground in No Name.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Went back to No Name in search of non winded terrain with a pitch to it. First of all there’s no way I would ski in No Name Bowl if there was any kind of wind affect or wind slab because I know what’s lurking under the new snow, FACETS to the ground. There was a slight bit of wind slab right off the ridge line but 10ft down the slope it went back to light density powder on a pile of loose facets. If we ever get a real load of snow with higher density the bowl seems destine to avalanche wall to wall. It’s easy to see how weak the snow on this slope is by the long running sluffs gouging down into the facets and entraining quite a bit of snow. I did not note any natural avalanching in either Monitor from the E winds more like scouring down to old tracks and previous avalanches.
Photos: long running sluffs gouging into the faceted snow pack, and a video that shows you just how weak the snow pack is in this terrain
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate