Observation: Mary Ellen

Observation Date

3/15/2026

Observer Name

Zimmerman-Wall

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird periphery » Mary Ellen

Location Name or Route

Sinner's Pass/Mary Ellen Gulch

Weather

Sky

Few

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Strong

Weather Comments

The temp at 11,000' at 11am was 10F. The wind remained a constant companion and could still find snow to move along the highest ridgelines and in open terrain.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Notable variation across terrain visited. In the open terrain there were raised tracks, wind sculpted rolls, and completely scoured down to a surface resembling ice (sand blasted and then flash frozen. Punchy wind board could be found in many areas.

A signifiant amount of debris on the snow surface was found in the near treeline terrain and only occaisonally could we find a soft patch of wind blown snow to make it worth the effort.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Normal Caution

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

A relatively weaker layer (January Dry Layer of facets) was found over 1 meter down. It did not react in tests, and appeared to be rounding.

Snow Profile

Aspect

Northeast

Elevation

9,400'

Slope Angle

11°

Comments

Pagan Basin and Mary Ellen gulch both had a variety of firm surfaces conditions, from melt freeze crust to wind blasted.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Low

Coordinates

Observation: Mary Ellen

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