Observation: Big Water

Observation Date

12/24/2012

Observer Name

Fred

Region

Salt Lake

Location Name or Route

Mill D south to Reynolds to Big Water gulch to Birthday Run

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Precip rates HEAVY at times. Wind would come and go on ridge lines. I'd say 18+ inches of new snow. I would have checked the very low density box if it were there.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

18"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

Christmas comes early for the Wasatch powder skiers this year. Seemed well behaved. Easy trail breaking. Snow is of such light density not a real steep pitch is needed for good skiing.

Red Flags

Heavy Snowfall

Red Flags Comments

Snow pack is very variable. Pic dug at 8700' on east facing to south east facing show a crust which is somewhat fragile but no collapsing or real cracking today. Sluffs would run if pitch was steep but not break out to form an avalanche.

Avalanche Problem #2

Trend

Increasing Danger

Comments

With it snowing so hard would expect an avalanche cycle to happen esp. if the wind gets going.

Observation: Big Water

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