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Observation: White Pine

Observation Date
2/27/2023
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Weather Comments
Light snow in the morning with very intense precipitation intensity in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
I broke a trail up White Pine Canyon in LCC. I was amazed how few cars there were in the parking lot and I needed to break trail from the White Pine-Red Pine junction. We seemed to be the only party in the entire basin. I think people are just tired of skiing so much perfect powder this year, at least I know I have actually muttered it to several friends lately without washing my mouth out with soap. We went up and took three laps on the north-facing Spire gladed trees. It was snowing so hard in the afternoon with some wind so much of the uptrack was already buried. Snow was fabulous powder with about 8 inches from last night plus what was falling today, and it sat on soft settled snow from before last night's snowfall, creating perfect, knee-deep powder. One of the best days of the year, but I've said this several times this season.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
The snow was well behaved, at least where we were. I did not dig a snowpit but I did dig several quick hand pits and cut out blocks of new snow with my ski pole and did my usual compressions and shear tests by hand. I did not notice any problems within the new snow, at least in the upper 2-3 feet of the snowpack. I chose a conservative trail up a north facing slope in the trees and there was very little wind damage or drifting. We took three laps between about 10,000' and 8,600' and I ski cut several 40-degree, small rollovers and could not get anything to move. Up higher in above-treelined terrain, there was probably some wind affected snow but we did not experience any today. But with the forecast for another foot or more overnight, all this will be a moot point as avalanche conditions will depend on how the snow comes in overnight. I'm guessing tomorrow it will be just too deep to ski in most places. I hate it when that happens. Good day for the resorts.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates