Observation Date
3/13/2024
Observer Name
Antenucci, Hoffman, McEachern
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Whipple Couloir
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Throughout the day there were periods of heavy snowfall.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Low density powder mixed with graupel. In isolated features the graupel pooling was significant.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
It looked like a natural cycle had already run when we entered the Whipple, shallow storm slab crowns and debris was noted on mostly W facing features. We did get some cracking in the new snow that produced small D.5 avalanches in isolated pieces of steeper terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Seemed like a widespread natural cycle occurred sometime during the high PI rates. Storm slabs were still producing shooting cracks, with the graupel pooling and low density surface snow, small avalanches were entraining a lot of snow on their way down.
Comments
On our way up towards the top of Waldo Chute, a small natural avalanche (D1) released within the new snow and entrained more snow than we were anticipating. This event carried one of the members in party about 30 feet downhill. With the sensitivity of conditions today the terrain we chose to climb was more constrained and a ridge feature would have been more appropriate.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
