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Observation: White Pine

Observation Date
1/2/2021
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
BKN to OVC with periods of the higher peaks X. Light winds with short gusts to mod, upper winds looked to be moving based on cloud movement and noise, no blosno
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Soft snow around. The old tracks are pretty firm.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Boot pen 100cm/full pack, pit below NW ridge of Red top at NW 9,050' HS 100cm, CTM12 SP & CTM13 SP down 20cm on 1-2mm FC, ECTN11 same layer. CTM16 SC and CTM14 SC down 50cm on 20201211 FCsf/FCxr, ECTN16 same layer. Crust below the 20201211 layer is decomposing and variable, not a consistent layer. The slab on top of the 20201211 layer seems to have weakened preventing propagation, slab broke vertically upon failure. Another pit at 9,400 N provided similar results HS 95cm. Cracking and collapsing not as prevalent today as other recent outings. I will be continuing to monitor the 20201222 FC layer down about 20cm if we get additional load or wind slab forming on top.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Spatial variability in the slab seems high. The slab seems to have broken down preventing propagation in some areas, more protected areas in the mid/upper and mid elevations. The 20201211 FCsf appear to be rounding. I don't think the slab has weakened enough everywhere to prevent propagation. It seems as though there is high spatial variability with the slab and it may not be connected as I thought. As recent avalanche activity shows, there is not a slab or enough slab until there is to produce an avalanche. The nature of the variability and the speed at which a slab can form with wind, warming etc still has me skeptical of steeper slopes in the mid and high elev Norths.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Did not observe blowing snow today but there is some AST and winds in upper elev/ridglines may be forming wind slab. Wind slab on top of 20201222 FC down about 20cm may produce results.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,100'
Comments
Slab broke vertical with ECTN result down 50cm
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates