Observation: Kessler Peak

Observation Date
4/1/2013
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Argenta, Kessler Peak
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Weather Comments
A brief period of moderate snow, with thunder, mid tour. Occassional fog. A nice break up on the ridge line.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Anywhere from a 1/2 inch new at about 8,000' to 2" new damp snow at the ridge line, at about 10,000'. Best turning at upper elevations, with a smooth old snow surface beneath. Low elevation slush was, well...slush.

Comments

Mostly LOW danger. New snow was sensitive, and it was easy to trigger sluffs on steep slopes at the higher elevations, that ran full track for the terrain, with shallow debris piles. But just not enough snow where I was for these to be much of a concern for a person, unless you were pushed off balance and off a cliff. Any danger increased with new snow depth - some slopes that received 4" of new snow (upper Cottonwoods) actually had a shallow natural cycle in a few places.

Clouds and slightly cooler temperatures kept wet snow issues from being a problem today.