Observation Date
11/13/2020
Observer Name
Jimmy G
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Catherine's Pass
Location Name or Route
Catherine’s Pass
Comments
I spent this beautiful morning skinning through Albion Basin to Point Supreme. The sun was out, it was cold, and the wind was ripping on exposed ridge tops and knobs.
I did not observe any substantial cornicing, save for small pockets of wind drifted snow on leeward slopes. I attempted several ski cuts on N-facing micro-terrain features, but could not get anything to fracture nor slide.
I dug a pit at 10.5k on a N-ish aspect in moderately sheltered terrain-- right at the top of Point Supreme. I found 30-35cm of right side up snow, with warm, dense snow on the bottom, and powder on top. Roughly F-4F-1F-ground. Nice. A simple shovel tilt test provided me with no evidence of obvious instability, shearing, etc.
I suspect that tomorrow's storm will stress the current base, as solid as it is-- especially on leeward slopes, where wind-drifted snow certainly exists.
Despite a 35cm settled base, riding conditions were excellent, and felt much deeper. It was easy to forget that sharks still lurk not far beneath the surface. Dust off your rock skis, if you got 'em.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates