Observation Date
4/3/2020
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Sunset Peak
Location Name or Route
Upper Big Cottonwood/Sunset
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Cold temperatures again overnight, but at least 5 to 10 degrees warmer during the day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mixed bag out there. Best riding centers around smooth/flat surfaces without old track. Due north above 8500 with slope angles greater than 25 degrees continue to hold settled powder, and slopes closer to 30 and above have either a bottomless feel or a spongy rebounding surface. SE, S and SW aspects are supportable and good riding once the previously formed m/f crust softens. Today there was one inch of lingering old settled powder on the ESE that was excellent riding on moderate and low angle slopes. All these sunny aspects will mature quickly and may not be true corn, but will offer great turning once they warm up slightly. Slide for life issues are in place when ascending any steep terrain, and that includes steep northerly aspects that got wind swept during this last event. Saturdays forecast for clear skies may be the best day of riding for this weekend with more cloudiness scheduled for the remainder of the weekend.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Temperatures will continue to rise rapidly over the next 24 hours and extreme caution should be given to being on and or under any of the large cornices that are looming out there.
The past two nights of extreme cold temperatures have helped surface faceting establish in the 2 to 5 inches of light density snow that fell earlier in the week. Northerly aspects have very week snow now in the shady aspects and this will continue to develop over the next few days in these sheltered and shady areas. Minimal stuffing and or Loose Dry was observed on all shady steep slopes today, and though it was manageable, certain confining terrain features may compound this issue and problem.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Over the next 48 to 72 hours the intense warmth that is forecast will be the major issue to contend with at all elevations and on all aspects.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
As previously mentioned, the large Cornices out there need to avoided during intense daytime heating and solar radiation.
Comments
Besides any of these avoidable issues/problems: (very isolated wind slabs, wet snow issues, and the aforementioned Cornices), the overall danger today appeared to be Low.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
