Observation: Alta Periphery

Observation Date

4/1/2026

Observer Name

Kelly and Hardesty

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery

Location Name or Route

Rocky Point

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

North

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

Weather best described as 'coastal'. Fluctuating rain-snow line since the onset of the storm Tuesday night...with rain to 9k before lowering to roughly 7800', then doubling back up to maybe 8500'? Air felt humid and greenhouse-y until the sun would barely tease through for a moment before becoming obscured again.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

High

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

Damp and sponge-y, but seemed to bond well to the 1cm thick superficial refreeze.

In some ways, it felt like November with many solar and off aspects fraught with obstacles, now thinly veiled by the new snow.

Red Flags

Rapid Warming

Red Flags Comments

By early afternoon, the warmth and greenhousing took its toll on the snow and you could just almost get push-a-lanches to move down steep terrain; any aspect would do.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wet Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

First photo of a small wet loose sluff from the heating/greenhousing; second pic is that the refreeze is superficial (yet supportable) ~ 1-2cm but the warm new snow has insulated the isothermal snowpack and one can push a ski pole to the bottom of the snowpack. Last pic os of the 6-8" of new above wet grains (that may take awhile to 'lock-up', even with a strong cold front due Thursday.).

At some point, I would expect to see longer running wet sluffs gouging into these unconsolidated layers, perhaps as soon as later Friday - or whenever the sun/heating reappears.

Snow Profile

Aspect

North

Elevation

10,200'

Comments

Layer of greatest concern was 4' (123cm) from the ground below a slight melt freeze crust under the newest snow. We were able to get results (CT14PC/Q2) at this layer. We were also able to tease out a fracture when we isolated a block (photo below).

Overall the old snow was still isothermal (same temperature) in places and on south-west facing slopes where there was more than just the new snow we were able to sink our ski poles basket side down to the ground in some locations.

Coordinates

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