Observation: 10420

Observation Date
12/13/2019
Observer Name
Hardesty and Wilson
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
Guardsman to 10420
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Weather Comments
Second round of light precip began at 1pm. Light west to southwest wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Noted no cracking or collapsing in travels though many slopes have run since Thanksgiving. A few snowpits in the upper elevations show 130-140cm of snow on the ground with a right side up slab of over 1 meter. Basal facets roughly 4F. Multiple (even deep tap) ECTs showed ECTX.
Only a layer of stellars 25cm showed much reactivity with teasing ECTP5. Still, we put little stock in the results owing to spatial variability and the recent loading. When storm settles down, will be increasingly difficult to trigger the deeper slabs and will be avoiding repeaters and thinner trigger points where known. For now I'm still avoiding steep shady terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None