Observation: Patsy Marly

Observation Date
12/13/2020
Observer Name
McKinley Talty
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Patsy Marly
Location Name or Route
Patsey Marley
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Morning skies were partly cloudy, with overcast skies overhead by 1 PM. Air temps at 10,325' were 18 F around noon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Some cracking observed in isolated areas
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Conern for the day, other than a shallow snowpack, was dry loose slides in the new snow which were observable on steep slopes.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,300'
Slope Angle
15°
Comments
Went up to Patsey Marley today and dug a pit on a WNW slope at 10,325'. Height of snow was 89 cm with, as expected, 45 cm of facets sitting at the base. New snow from the past two days stacked up 28 cm on the slope, sitting atop 11 cm of 4F facets , which was above a 5 cm 1F layer. An Extended Column Test resulted in ECTN-13 on this 1F layer at 50 cm above the ground. This is only one test, however, and I wouldn't be surprised if other tests found propagation at the ground. I am not excited for the future structure of this snowpack.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates