Observation Date
2/3/2019
Observer Name
E Walsh
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » USA Bowl
Location Name or Route
USA Bowl
Comments
About 10" of new snow observed in the mid-elevations of the bowl in wind-protected terrain by 3pm. New snow sat upon a breakable melt-freeze crust at mid-elevations, but a thicker and more stout crust at upper elevations. The new snow seemed to bond well to the old snow interface, but hasty pits showed some weakness below the melt-freeze crust at mid-elevations. Damp, near surface facets observed just under the crust at mid-elevations could be the source of this instability. At higher elevations this weakness was not observed.
The new snow seemed to be primarily graupel and provided easy trail-breaking and good riding conditions at mid-elevations, making the melt-freeze crust a non-issue everywhere but near the ridge. No evidence of instability while descending the west coast of USA Bowl.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates