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Observation: Snake Creek

Observation Date
3/19/2023
Observer Name
CB
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Snake Creek
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Warm day, high clouds most of the day increasing throughout. Light winds on the ridgelines ~ 9,800-10,000'
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The snow surface on the northerlies is quite weak. 5-10cm+ of small grain FCsf above 4F-1F old snow surface. Also noted 4-5cm SH all the way up to the ridge lines in this area.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Snow surface is a major concern with incoming precip. In this area, the FCsf are sitting over a firm bed surface as well as intact 4-5mm SH on the northerlies. On solar slopes I observed RR FC on MF that will make for a great weak layer/bed surface combo as well with incoming snow. I also noted cracking as the cornice start to slowly calve off.
Comments
It looks like much of this area avalanched R2-R4 early in the 3/15 storm cycle, running most of the track including 8 ball, snake eyes, the path in between those, and the smaller path south/down drainage from Snake Eyes. Bed surfaces were filled in with ~10cm of now FCsf snow. Also noted more activity on the PPgp layer, including below cliff bands on south side of Pioneer peak and very recent HS-AM at 9,700' ESE 34* mid slope on 4mm PPgp. The PPgp was still intact on bed surface with steeper slopes above unaffected.
Picture 1: 3-5mm SH
Picture 2 & 3: South side Pioneer Peak avalanche
Picture 4, 5, 6; Mid slope 34* HS-AM recent avalanche on PPgp
Picture 7: Approx location of 3/15 and recent avalanches
I am not totally convinced the PPgp layer has healed at this point, and I am almost certain the current weak snow surface will produce touchy avalanche conditions with the incoming storm. I will definitely be avoiding many of the slopes I skied today and similar slopes with the new load. Also, due to the high spatial variability of the weak snow surface and the uncertainty of the PPgp layer a conservative approach to terrain choice over the following days will vital.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates