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Observation Date
11/17/2012
Observer Name
Trent Meisenheimer/Craig Gordon
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Martha Bowl/ Brighton
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Very warm, Raining at Spruces.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Still didn't ski anything steeper than 34 degrees (I don't trust the facets). However, great skiing on lower angle north facing.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
This is only confined to upper elevation northernly facing terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Facet/Grauple interface still producing clean shears and failing on damp facets just beneath the grauple, although a bit stubborn (26 taps). I am still seeing clean propagation on the faceted layer just beneath the grauple. This pit was north facing roughly 10,000 ft.
Comments
Grauple is a weak layer, Facets are a weak layer. The facets beneath the grauple however are the weakest link and thats why its failing just below the grauple.
Grauple has more pour space between the grains allowing water vapor to move more freely throughout this layer. While you might think that grauple would facet quicker because of the air space between the grains, it would actually take longer to facet because of the size of the grain. You can see at some point there was a strong temperature gradient and the grauple started to facet. I don't think there is a strong temperature gradient anymore with the warm temps.
The facets are damp and probably gaining strength. However, there are still plenty of sharp angular corners.