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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
12/10/2012
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
P.C. Ridge Line
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Lots of blowing snow today. Wind speeds gust up to 35+ effecting all terrain. West and South ridge lines blown clean or close to it.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
11"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow off ridge lines soft and fun.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Density change in new snow producing cracking. Lots of new, low density snow and lots of wind to move it around.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Snow on North through East facing is a bit twitchy.
Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
9,600'
Slope Angle
27°
Comments
Strong wind at times today effecting all slopes well off ridge line. Pic of the wind action at the bottom of WIlls' Hill Lots of snow being transported to the N. through E. facing. Just a mild tap on the cornice produced a sympathetic fresh wind drift to crack and run along the north facing ridge line of about 100' (pic of the small tap and propagation). This was new snow only, it didn't break into anything deeper. Felt like more teasing could have easily gotten both Monitor's to release but am hoping for a real snow pack in this area this year so I let them be. Attached pic of wind slab. Also a natural cornice drop in S. Monitor but could not tell how far it ran (poor vis);
Coordinates