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Observation: Twin Lakes Pass

Observation Date
12/14/2020
Observer Name
Joey Manship
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Twin Lakes Pass
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Wind loading was apparently on east facing slopes. Winds had calmed down in the afternoon and there was fresh snow on all faces.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The surface of the old the snow is very faceted and not bonding to the new snow. Currently it doesn't seem that the new snow is putting enough load to cause widespread proplems, but that could change rapidly with more water weight added.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
10,200'
Comments
Conditions where good in the right places, there are still lots of rocks out there. Snow from the past days has made for some nice pow! I had thoughts of going to a south facing slope but it is not deep enough to cover the rocks and stumps on those faces.
Digging a pit I found that the layer old snow is very faceted especially at the interface of the new snow. In pit tests I did not find this weak layer propagating, but with more snow it will be an issue.
I also noticed an intentionally triggered avalanche on the NE side of Twin Lakes pass going up to the summit. I looked to be about 6 inches deep, 50 feet wide and ran for maybe 300-400ft. It ran on the interface of new and old snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable