Observation: White Pine

Observation Date

3/4/2026

Observer Name

Kelly, Kelly, Grainger

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine

Location Name or Route

White Pine

Weather

Sky

Few

Wind Direction

South

Wind Speed

Strong

Weather Comments

Moderate to strong southerly winds were moving snow across the highest ridgelines. With strong winds we observed snow being drifted from south, west, and east winds. The winds were gusty and erratic.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

Very little powder snow. We found softer snow in protected north-east facing terrain, but mostly saw melt-freeze crust with surface hoar and near surface facets on the surface on the ascent and very damp snow surface on the descent. Above 10,00' we saw a mixed surface of melt-freeze and wind crust.

Photo of snow drifting on the highest ridgelines

Photo of surface hoar before it melted

Photo of stout melt-freeze crust still in the freeze stage, 9,200' taken in the AM

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Problem #1 Comments

The primary problem we observed today was wind drifted snow on the higher ridgelines. We avoided slopes that were actively wind loading.

Photo of wind drifted snow above East Pass

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wet Snow

Problem #2 Comments

We talked about the PWL and observed rapid warming in lower elevation terrain. We observed roller balls in the Birthday Chutes, Tri-Chutes and Long John Silver (photo below) up to 10,600'. We also saw a wet avalanche/roller ball something or other on northeast facing Rainbow Ridge around 9,000' that most likely occurred on Tuesday March 3.

Comments

We observed some old avalanches from last week.

Dog Dish- east facing 9,600'

White Baldy- northeast facing Glacier Bowl 10,800'

Red Baldy- northeast 10,600'

Coordinates

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