Observation Date
12/14/2012
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Catherine Pass and Peak 10,420
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Partly cloudy in the morning and overcast with snow in the afternoon. Wind was light.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface continues to be very inconsistent with lots of old wind damaged snow at most aspects and elevations. But there was a skiff of new snow on the surface, which really helped the turning conditions. On wind sheltered slopes the snow was fairly good but you have to snoop for it. New storm coming in overnight makes everything above a moot point.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
One cornice-triggered avalanche today and one large explosive released avalanche from Brighton. The snowpack structure remains a bit sketchy but the slabs are stubborn and there was no lack of volunteer stability testers out today and all but one did not trigger any avalanches. So Moderate danger probably covered it accurately. But with the coming series of storms....stay tuned.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
With the weak, faceted snow still buried about 2 feet deep on most of the northerly and easterly facing slopes, we have to continue to be suspicious about the snowpack. My snowpit tests were inconsistent, some propagating fractures with medium elbow taps and some not fracturing or propagating at all. This is typical in conditions like these where it has not snowed in awhile. But with a series of storms arriving in Utah over the next week or so, it's going to get interesting. I suspect that this first pulse of snow tonight won't weight quite enough to reactivate the buried layer of faceted snow, but by Sunday or Monday the danger could be Considerable or High especially if the wind picks up.
Comments
Here is a quick video (55 seconds) of all the stability results and snow profiles I did from several snowpits tests today in several locations. It gives a good overview of the snowpack conditions.
Video
