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Observation: Foothills

Observation Date
1/11/2013
Observer Name
Jim Steenburgh
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Pipeline Pass area, Avenues foothills
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate south winds on ridge with small cornices.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2'
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
To dry, too deep for that hill!
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Skied from top of Terrace Hills Drive to pipeline pass and took a couple laps on north facing terrain where the snowpack is pushing a meter (photos below). New snow sitting on facets on north aspect. Faceted layer is very soft and weak (fist), caped by melt-freeze crust. Failure at isolation at new snow/old snow interface, probably helped by old surface facets. Didn't investigate in detail. Collapsing was isolated.
Comments
Back went out later in tour. Alas....

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