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Observation: Lanes Leap

Observation Date
11/25/2023
Observer Name
Staples
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420 » Lanes Leap
Location Name or Route
Lanes Leap area on 10,420
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Thin snowpack. Very cold, light powder on top.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Isolated and small collapsing. I think other collapses had already been triggered.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
No question - there are obvious facets giving all the warning signs. They only need more load and more cohesion in the snow on top of them.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,300'
Slope Angle
22°
Comments
Quick dusk patrol lap to blow out the cobwebs and check out the snow. Because of previous traffic, it took just a little skinning out of old ski tracks to get some collapsing...a clear sign of instability.
  • Profile from a clearing below the Lane's Leap slide path, but identical snow layers.
  • A collapse with obvious cracking had already been triggered in Lane's Leap but it didn't slide
  • Perhaps the snow above the weak layer is just too soft at the moment.
  • Maybe half a dozen tracks descending Lane's Leap - the snow may be lacking something to produce an avalanche, but I still wouldn't count on it. The slightest additional cohesion may be all it needs to slide.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates