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Observation: Snake Creek

Observation Date
12/1/2024
Observer Name
B
Region
Provo » Snake Creek
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek Canyon
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Early morning temperatures in the low 20's gave way to unseasonably warm afternoon temperatures. Skies were mostly clear with a Few Clouds. Winds remained light out of the WNW with no transport and or Wind Blown.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
HS was extremely variable with depths ranging from 25cm to 70cm on the shady aspects. Solars continue to take on heat getting damp during the day and crust as soon as the sun is not in play. 10 to 15 cm Knife Hard old wind slabs were observed near the ridgelines with intermittent wind skins scattered throughout the terrain. The snow surface continues to weaken with NSF's and SH covering all the aspects not effected by the sun. Riding conditions remained good, yet the light powder riding from two days ago has now changed to slower surface facet turning.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
40 meter long shooting cracks and collapsing were observed while skinning across a 35 degree slope at 9600 feet on a Northerly facing aspect, and there was steeper terrain directly above this area. The structure here had an average HS of 45cm with 10cm of basal facets near the ground and a 10cm 1 Finger layer directly above these facets. The collapsing was in the basal facets. The Weak Layer Spatial Variability in a relatively small area was quite varied and different. Some areas had only a 4 Finger potential Slab over the basal facets. All areas had strong over weak structure.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
See above, and for the time being it appears that there is not enough weight and or load to present a Persistent Slab Avalanche Problem in most areas. Yet, there continues to possibly have isolated reactivity in very steep Wind Loaded Upper Elevation Wind Loaded terrain on the Polar aspects.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
No Wet Loose activity was observed today, but there may be this possibility on very steep Southerly facing terrain with the temperatures warming combined with the direct afternoon sun.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low