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Observation: Foothills

Observation Date
3/6/2022
Observer Name
ZSmith
Region
Salt Lake » Foothills
Location Name or Route
Avenues Foothills
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Over a foot of dense powder and close to two feet in north facing sheltered terrain.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Dug a quick pit at the bottom of a sheltered north facing slope. Beneath the storm snow was a layer of wet faceted snow left over from the last event nearly two months ago. I isolated a block and with a shovel tilt was able to get the new snow to slide on the faceted layer.
Comments
Given I was at ground zero for what Jim Steenburgh aptly called the "Avenues Snow Bomb", I felt I should represent and explore the blast zone. Snow totals varied between a foot to nearly two feet. Laying skin track was laborious but the riding was divine. Surfy, playful powder that rewarded steeper lines. No need for the rock skis today.
The first part of the morning was near whiteout conditions as the front passed by but by noon skies were clear and solar aspects were getting tacky but still skied well.
As referenced in the avalanche problems, in isolated, north facing sheltered areas there are pockets of facets that should be respected if skiing steep N/NE/NW terrain. I attached a photo of a hand pit I dug to illustrate.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates