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Observation: Red Pine

Observation Date
1/22/2025
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine
Location Name or Route
Red Pine
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold and mostly clear, wind was still blowing in the strong category on the highest ridgeline not to bad down in the drainage.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
The majority of the snow in the alpine as well as lower down in the drainage consists of windslab, breakable wind crust, strastrugi, hardslab, loose faceted snow and a few spots with settled powder, almost forgot the suncrust on due south.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Went up into upper Red Pine today to get a look at the alpine terrain, obviously it's been hammered by winds leaving wind scoured rocks, raised tracks, and trapdoor skiing conditions or firm windslabs, depending on aspect and exposure. I jumped on a bunch of windslabs and couldn't get any to release but a few did have localized cracking. The wind was still cranking on the high ridgelines moving snow on to leeward slopes and scouring slopes facing into the wind. Most of the terrain features were scoured or covered with hard windslabs as well. Not only is the snow windjacked in the terrain covered but most of the big lines in upper Red Pine aren't even in yet because a lack of snow. I wasn't impressed with the snowpack in the upper drainage, its thin, with a rotten and faceted base. Seems like when it does snow it's either gonna land on a hard slick bed surface or faceted loose snow. Photos are wind damage and some faceted snow on the surface.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates