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Observation: Alta Ski Area

Observation Date
11/14/2013
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area
Location Name or Route
Sugarloaf Pass, Cecret Lake
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments

I was astounded by how much snow has melted since I was in upper Little Cottonwood Canyon a week ago. There is no snow on south facing and only spotty patches on west facing. The only place with enough snow for any kind of skiing is on northerly facing slopes and some east facing slopes above about 10,000'. Pretty grim. The only choice is to go to the ski areas, which are not yet open for the season, at least in LCC.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Most of the snow on the northerly and easterly aspects is quite crusted from the warm weather and you have to get on straight north facing slopes above about 10,000' and steeper than 30 degrees to find any snow with a soft recrystallized snow surface. Yes, the depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack is still very much intact and weak and the snow surface has lost some strength but remains as small-grained faceted snow. So...with the expected storm this weekend, we could have both some storm snow avalanches running on the old surface facets or heat crusts and there is always a chance for a deeper release onto the depth hoar, especially in wind loaded terrain above 10,000'.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

There was a report today that the Snowbird patrol noticed a deep slab release in their periphery terrain (Baldy Bowl) and it appeared to be a natural. This is uncontrolled terrain with a backcountry snowpack structure. It was reported to be up to 4' deep and 70' wide and possibly ran in the last couple days. They had not visited the slide but only noticed it from a distance. We will check it out tomorrow. Otherwise they reported mostly Low danger.

So welcome to the usual early season depth hoar pattern with lingering depth hoar and other faceted layers on the shady aspects (north through east) and almost no snow on any of the other slopes. And although the buried depth hoar on most of these slopes is "dormant" you can never trust it. Occasionally, you can find a pocket that has human triggered potential and even (surprisingly) potential to slide naturally. With the next storm, the avalanche danger will be extremely aspect and elevation dependent.

In my snow profile (see below) I did not do any stability tests because there was not enough of a slab on top to be reactive and it was so shallow. but along the upper elevation ridges where the wind has been loading it with weight, it probably does have enough of a slab on top. I did not try to mess with any of these slopes, for obvious reasons and chose, instead, to stay on the gentler slopes below without any wind loading.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,200'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments

You can see that no snow exists on the south and west facing slopes across from Alta. This is rocky area here is the route up to Catherine's Pass, which I skied up last Thursday but what a difference a week makes. I would have to hike it today.

A wide view of the south facing slopes across from Alta with Cecret Lake at Alta in the foreground. The only decent snow left is on the north and east facing slopes above 9,500' in elevation.

Coordinates