Observation Date
1/28/2021
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Emma Ridges
Location Name or Route
LCC, Emma's to Upper Silver Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate winds gusting to strong during the afternoon. No precip falling while out. Warm temperatures.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow is upside down and wind affected. South had mix of wind crust (possibly MF/sun?/greenhousing?), wind blown funk and some noce powder on the lower angle slightly protected slopes. North's were holding upside down thick snow. Hard to tell how much new with the wild winds. Open ENE had wind crust.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Interesting out there today. Recent small avalanches noted along the Silver Fork Headwall, some cornice triggered, others mid slope. Didn't appear than any broke into new snow. The cornices have grown substantially in the last two days and are very sensitive. Lots of cracking and a few collapses noted. Very obvious wind loading. Sean Z.W. pictures give a accurate visual aid of how the winds were reacting today. Observed winds blowing snow from the west and 100' up slope blowing snow from the east.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Thick, getting deep. I can see some wind slabs being up to 4' deep in places, cracking noted and some smaller natural activity. The new very soft growing cornices are all a major concern for users. Give them space and don't intentionally trigger them. They could cause larger wind slab, or worse yet the PWL.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Interested to see if this wind and load brings the PWL back to life. The central core that I could see today did not have any observed avalanches breaking into old snow. Totally different story on the PC Ridgeline...
Comments
WATCH THE CORNICES. It is not ok to drop large cornices on slopes triggering avalanches with poor visibility to confirm that no one from another party is involved.
Few pictures below of the building cornices, blowing snow, and a great example of partners giving the cornice plenty of room(well right of obvious signs of solid ground). They break back further than expected and can suck you in and cause a larger avalanche.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
