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Observation: 10420

Observation Date
11/8/2012
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate winds with strong gusts.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Souteast through south through west facing slopes were bare to the summits. Northerly facing slopes above about 9,500' had a thin crust on top, capped with 4 to 6 mm facets that were frozen onto the crust. Mid elevations and easterly and westerly facing slopes recieving sun were damp when warm, frozen hard when cold.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Weak faceted layer beneath the surface crust.
Comments
Standing on top of 10,420, the southerly facing slopes are mostly bare. Northerly facing slopes seemed to average about 10" of snow at 10,000' and higher. In some areas, the ground features such as rocks were sticking through, in other areas the snow was more continuous.
Snow surface on these upper elevation, northerly facing slopes was a crust (assume melt-freeze) with well developed facets on top that were well frozen to the crust. I don't think these facets will be able to collapse as a weak layer. The problem is the smaller facets beneath the crust.
Average snow pack at 10,400', NE facing, on peak 10,420.
Looking at the upper elevation, northerly facing slopes, there is just enough snow on some of the smoother slopes to cover the ground features. With a heavy load of new snow, I expect slides to break down into the facets below the crust, either as small slabs or with the facets simply encouraging larger sluff. I think it will be a pockety, but serious issue, that can catch people unaware. One slope will be stable, the next, more sheltered, smoother slope harboring old snow beneath, will have the potential to slide.