Observation Date
1/12/2013
Observer Name
SZW
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
City Creek/Bonneville Shoreline
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
We left the trailhead at noon and the sky was mostly overcast, however, by mid afternoon, the skies had generally cleared. Some wind transport was happening on the subridges.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
There was myriad snow conditions and depths throughout the foothills above the Avenues. Each aspect had its own layering, with up to six inches of damp facets on the shaded aspects (NW through E). Depths ranged from 18"-36" depending on where you were standing. Settlement of the snow was probably around 20% since Jim skied it yesterday. The prevailing winds during the storm also produced some decent sized cornices. Although they seemed pretty benign.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
The recent storm blanketed the foothills in up to three feet of medium to low density snow and provided some interesting, albiet excellent, riding conditions. Perhaps the most stunning of all was the number of people and dogs recreating on the slopes above the city. The hasty pits we dug on the shaded and deeper aspects revealed 20"+ of fist hard powder on top of up to 6" of fist hard damp facets.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
If you were able to venture far enough afield onto NW through Easterly slopes, you would find damp facets at the ground overlain with up to three feet of new snow. A slight density change was noted at about 18". A few hasty pits yielded some low quality shears within the new snow, but nothing seemed to step down into the old snow. Overall, settlement of the new snow was quite good.
Comments
Hundreds of ski and dog tracks covered the foothills today and people were out in full force. The steeper lines towards Black Mtn. in City Creek were well skied, but there was no evidence of natural or human triggered slides. Our group practiced good procedures and skied slopes one at a time. However, the majority of the people out skiing, boarding, and snowshoeing were not using safe protocols and skiers were dropping in on skinners. It was quite the circus and nothing was sacred. Fortunately, no incidents occurred and you only really had to worry about skiing in to dog droppings. Not bad a full day of skiing below 6,000 feet.
