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Observation: Sound of Music

Observation Date
3/22/2013
Observer Name
Jake Hutchinson
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
PC Ridge - Moon Rocks - Sound of Music
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
consistent snow all day, about 10-15" in areas not affected by wind, much deeper where the wind laid it down.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Top 2-3" very sensitive and cracking locally without much effort, but not going anywhere. new snow now seems bonded to old surface.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Cracking is very localized and shallow, dropped a handful of motorcycle sized cornices with limited cracking and some minor sluffing. Tried to start a slide with a ski cut on Sound of Music main bowl, got lots of cracks but nothing moving. Really good skiing, snow knee to mid thigh deep.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments

I imagine you can still find spots where the new snow/wind slab problems from yesterday haven't bonded yet, but we couldn't find it despite best efforts on various slopes up to 40 degrees.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Problem #2 Comments

Cornices are large and fairly sensitive although the ones we messed with broke somewhat predictably - these were on test slopes we are very comfortable with and low consequence. We stayed clear of the really big ones.

just a few picks from our cornice stomping and moon rocks skiing