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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
11/11/2012
Observer Name
Cameron
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch / Patsey Trees
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Wind varied from light to moderate, depending on exposure, gusting stronger on ridge lines Wind loading along ridge lines. Cold temps: -13c at the trailhead at 8:00, and -14c at 10,000 ft at 12:00. Snowfall was light to moderate throughout and visibility was limited. Down at 1:30.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Light and very deep. Difficult to make turns w/ slope angle under 30 degrees. Snowfall for the last 24 hours was 52cm/20in, and storm totals looked like 100cm/40in
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
Heavy snowfall combined with poor snowpack structure on NE through NW facing slopes. On these aspects facets underneath the melt/freeze crust capping the earlier storm snow was the reactive layer. This crust varied in thickness depending on location. It was super thin where I did a profile on NW aspect. Other than hearing some collapsing, and witnessing some minor cracking in wind loaded pockets, did not observe any other overt signs of instability, but didn't have much visibility today either.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
On NE through NW due to melt freeze crust and well developed facets to the ground.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Along ridge lines. The southerly winds from the beginning of the storm which shifted to NNW by day two have created some interesting pockets along ridge lines depending on exposure. It seems confined to ridge tops, but I didn't get on anything steep mid slope to test this theory.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,200'
Slope Angle
27°
Coordinates

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