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Observation: Tanners Gulch

Observation Date
5/1/2013
Observer Name
Brett Carroll
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Tanners Gulch
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
We started hiking at 6:30 thinking we'd have to beat the sun, but ended up hiking under overcast skies, light to moderate snowfall, and at times near white out conditions. The wind was calm until we reached the saddle at the top of the most obvious couloir in Tanners Gulch, where it was blowing lightly with moderate gusts from the North.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
I use "powder" only to describe the small amount of new snow that fell while we were climbing. The top of the couloir had about 3" of low density, mid-winter new snow. That amount decreased with elevation down to about .5" at the Tanners Gulch trail head. Underneath the new snow was a thick melt-freeze crust and quite a bit of frozen avy debris, most likely from the past weekend's wet avalanche cycle.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Stability was as close to perfect as snow stability can ever be. There is about 3" of low density new snow for transport in the upper elevations, and with moderate-gusting Northerly winds there's a chance that some leeward slopes will develop some shallow wind slabs. No wind slab had developed when we were at the top of the Gulch at 10am.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
I would expect the new snow to begin sloughing off the melt freeze crust underneath as soon as things heat up. That being said, with the small amount of new snow this should only be an issue if it knocks you off balance in some extreme terrain.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments
I'd also look out for shallow wind slabs on leeward terrain, which would most likely be sensitive on the underlying melt-freeze crust.
Comments
We were back at the trail head at 10:30am, so I can't speak with certainty as to what happened with the weather or snow later in the day.