Observation: 10420

Observation Date

4/2/2026

Observer Name

Davis, Geisler

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420

Location Name or Route

10420

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Moderate Snowfall

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Sky was mostly obscured although we had moments of more clear viz along. Snowfall ranged from S1 to S4 and winds sustained moderate with strong gusts on the ridgeline.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

15"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

Around 6" of new snow on the empire pass side where we started. Climbing the ridge to 10420 we found 12''-15'' of new snow. The old snow surface was gray, damp, melt forms and was generally bonded well to the new snow. There was thin, F+ hard crust in the bottom couple inches of storm snow likely from yesterday's period of sun/greenhousing. Failures in handpits were mostly on graupel/density change within today's storm.

Red Flags

Red Flags Comments

localized cracking to the skier

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

the ridgeline we were on was fairly shelter from NWerlies so we didnt see much wind loading

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

could see these failing in the near-term on the graupel/density change midway in the storm snow.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Observation: 10420

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