Observation Date
11/22/2013
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Scotts Bowl
Location Name or Route
Guardsman Road to Scotties Bowl
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Terrain channelled winds were from the northeast along this ridgeline, while wind sensors showed a more ESE wind direction.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
A wide variety of snow surfaces - hard to breakable wind slab, areas where the snow was scoured down to the depth hoar and dirt layer, with soft snow on sheltered, shady slopes. Some very sheltered northerly slopes are becoming unconsolidated - the start of a facet wallow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Easterly winds loading on a variety of aspects, a great example of how terrain channels wind. A variety of carcky, breakable slabs and supportable hard slabs. Structure along this portion of the Park City ridge line is the same sad story - a basement layer of weak facets; and a more minor mid pack near surface facet layer.
Comments
Wind... Many of the scoured slopes are starting zones, and now have a very shallow snow pack, increasing the chance of faceting during the upcoming dry spell.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
