Observation: Alpine Loop

Observation Date

2/18/2026

Observer Name

E Fullmer

Region

Provo » Provo Canyon » North Fork Provo R. » Alpine Loop

Location Name or Route

Alpine Loop

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Precipitation

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

At 715 at the Aspen Grove trailhead (6800’), graupel (S3) was falling with moderate winds and temperatures around 28°F. By 845am, precipitation transitioned from graupel to more mixed storm particles (S3). Precip. pulses up to S5. Winds remained active through the morning. Overall, it was a cold, windy storm morning with steady snowfall intensity. S2 at departure at 940, heading out before the storm strength increased.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

16"

New Snow Density

High

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

At 6800’, HS38cm with HST28cm (storm snow), largely graupel, sitting over a 10cm isothermal crust. At 7400’, HS75cm with HST40cm. The storm snow was mostly right-side-up graupel except for a slight density inversion between 55–65cm. The mid-pack included a 1F deteriorating crust (30–35cm), F facets (25–30cm), CERC (8–25cm), and saturated facets in the bottom 8cm. By 7900’ on a SE aspect, HS85cm with HST42cm. Wind slabs were beginning to form over graupel 5mm in size (see photo).

Ski penetration was only a few inches by 940 at the trailhead. The dense graupel, consisting of 2.5" SWE made for fun, fast, surfy riding conditions. Just the type of dense layer that we needed in the lower and mid elevations of the Provo mountains.

Red Flags

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Loading

Cracking

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Active wind transport and slab formation observed by mid-morning at 7900’ on SE aspects. Minor cracking occurred, and a pole-cut isolation produced failure on the storm graupel layer. The presence of a density inversion in the storm snow and graupel layering adds concern for soft slab formation. Large amounts of graupel pooling at the bottom of steep zones along the Alpine Loop road, one pile covering across the entirety of the road.

Comments

The moose is out! At about 7000', near the road.

Graupel pooling across the road:

Snowpack at 7400' in a meadow:

16" of graupel up to this size:

Snowfall at 8:30 AM:

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Coordinates

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