Observation Date
11/15/2012
Observer Name
Lew Hitchner
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Rocky Point
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Bluebird day, but rather warm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Due to the warm day there was lots of sun-softened snow on the up track with a few spots of sun crust. Shady areas were still powdery though dense.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Red Flags Comments
I scouted the 4 gullies between Catherine's Pass and Rocky Point. The first two (nearest the pass) were un-skied and had no snow surface disturbances. The 3rd gully had old ski tracks leading into an avalanche that had slid to the ground (rocks) with a run out of about 50-100 yards. The 4th gully (directly NE of Rocky Point) also had remnants of an avalanche though wind had obscured any ski tracks if there were any.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I dug a snow pit about 50' below the highest part of Rocky Point on the South side of the gully and above the ridge that leads directly down to the NE from the summit (didn't dare go any lower to dig the pit). The top 1 1/2' - 2' was consolidated storm snow with fist density at the top and about 3 or 2 fingers at the bottom. The bottom 4-6" was pure, unconsolidated depth hoar, very sugary with no structure. It was also somewhat damp. I did a column test and got it to fail on the 2nd or 3rd drop with my palm. The column broke on the depth hoar layer and the fracture had no structure, just the soft, sugary, uneven top level of the depth hoar.
Comments
The report submitted by G Gavin on 11/14 for "Rocky Point" that states that the only avalanche problem is wind slab that "will soon be buried" is actually not located at Rocky Point according to the submitter's Google Maps coordinates, 40° 34' 32.6748" N, 111° 36' 6.8004" W, but is actually for Point Supreme. Rocky Point is at 40°34'40.74"N, 111°35'52.74"W (see http://wasatchbackcountryskiing.com). The Rocky Point gullies will be unsafe for a long time this winter, IMHO.
