Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date
11/23/2013
Observer Name
Paradis
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Strong
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Around Twin Lakes Pass, the snow had been pretty well wind jacked. Even some places in trees that would normally be protected were affected. Along the ridge lines it was far worse.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
In the west facing location were I looked, there was essentially just lots of weak snow with little in the way of a substantial slab. In areas with more wind load, there is more potential to overload this weak snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

The wind crust and deposited snow varied widely in depth. In many places the crust was only an inch or so thick. In other areas, there was more deposited snow and I was able to produce some more cracking on steeper rolls, even in relatively protected terrain. This suggest potential to find larger wind slabs in more open areas.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments

Other aspects may vary but in this location, the snow pack was basically half facets, half decomposing new snow from last week. Neither of these were very cohesive. With more snow this will be more problematic The very bottom of the pack in this location consisted of somewhat frozen facets that were somewhat cohesive.

Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
25°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates