Observation Date
12/27/2012
Observer Name
Alan Agle
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
South of Canyons (ski area) Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A few squalls, otherwise calm day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
9"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Pit 50' below ridgeline, very complex pack. Bottom-to-top: Sugar at ground surface, then some fairly competent layering, then 10 cm VERY weak layer (fist), then accursed rain crust (pencil to almost knife), then some compacted wind-slab, then about 40cm light powder on top. ~9600 feet, NE aspect.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
This was a weird pit. Between ridge line and trees, about 50' vertically below ridge and 50' above trees. Despite this, our party ski-tested several rolls, and got only new-snow sluffs, although we stayed in the trees on slopes greater than 30 degrees. Chicken. Many, many new-snow sluffs and small slides observed in bowls north and south, although the paths did not widen or seem to contain anything greater than 1.0 to 1.5.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Lots of sluffs, not large.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Old slab activity noted, suspect much of it controlled.
Comments
We observed a LOT of wind transport from exposed ridgelines, NW to SE from a couple of squalls this afternoon. Bummer. Observer believes spatial variation is going to be significant this season; more than normal. Wind blasts from vigorous squalls very local in effect. This skier's quick take: Careful this year! I am expecting to test, check, do more pits than usual this year. The pack is weird, highly localized in profile, and the winds have been all over the compass.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
