Observation: Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
1/1/2013
Observer Name
Robin Jones
Region
Logan
Location Name or Route
Cottonwood Creek Drainage
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold temps overnight produced some surface hoar.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
20"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
New Year's Day powder skiing! The new snow consolidated considerably over previous three days, surface conditions were still low density powder but the pack is becoming more supportive. Observed settlement cones of up to a foot. We got a little more adventurous in the steeper terrain and kicked off some new-snow sloughs, but nothing unmanageable. Seems like the natural avalanche cycle had cleaned out many of the rocky areas before our arrival. We observed a few old crowns from a distance, probably only a few feet deep. It looked like the related avalanches propagated a little under cliff bands and rock outcroppings. No significant debris associated with these crowns observed. No signs of instability otherwise.