Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
2/12/2013
Observer Name
Jake Hutchinson/AAI Level 3
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Flagstaff to Days/Two dogs - Hideaway park to Silver
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow/old snow surface seem to be bonding well, many intentional ski cuts on steep test slopes revealed little or no surface sluffing

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Jan NSF layer is still the biggest concern, but it is rounding and gaining strength. Test results show mod to good strength, little or no propagation propensity but the poor structure demands respect. A thin or weak spot could have much different strength/propagation characteristics
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

Wind slab seemed to be on higher ridges, we didn't see anything directly but there was a bit of snow moving

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Problem #2 Comments

See above comments on structure - it's there, it seems tired but I am not ignoring it yet.

Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
31°
Coordinates