Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: East Bowl

Observation Date
4/9/2013
Observer Name
Paradis / Brackelsberg
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch - Silver Fork
Weather
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Wind seemed to be coming from all directions on the ridgelines. At Twin Lakes Pass, some wind was from the east. On the rigde between Grizzly and Silver Fork, wind was stronger and from a more northerly direction. Several of the weather stations seemed to report a variety of wind directions at 5pm (Hidden Peak says south, while Powderhorn says North).
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow surface was somewhat variable due to the wind and sun. Southerly aspects were warming and in places had a minor suncrust. West facing was also lightly crusted in some spots at 6pm but only wind affected in others. On other aspects, snow was very wind affected and dense. More protected snow skied better.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Strong winds and new snow combined to create some small pockets of instability. Photos are below. These were generally not of a concern but could be bad in the wrong place.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

The main problem today was wind slab near the ridgetops. Generally just off the ridges snow was more protected and had been loaded less.

Comments

East facing skier tiggered slide in Grizzly

South facing skier triggered slide in Grizzly

Small pocket near the top of East Bowl in Silver Fork

Strong winds in Silver Fork and small north facing sluff.