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Observation Date
12/1/2013
Observer Name
Robbins
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery
Location Name or Route
Catherine's Area/Alta Periphery
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Increasing clouds from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, with increasing westerly winds, gusting into the moderate category along 10000 foot ridges. Relatively cool, as well (-5c). The storm is approaching!
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

There is anywhere from 1-2 feet of faceted snow on the ground on north aspects above 9500 feet or so. It was even difficult skinning and gaining purchase in the loose-grained snow off of established skins tracks. Surface hoar was also noted on multiple aspects up in Albion Basin and on the higher ridges. Lots of avalanche problems once the next storm hits.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Small-grained facets in the top of the snowpack, larger grained (3-4mm) facets below the October dirt layer, and wet facets near the ground. Whew! We dug a pit on a NW slope at 10000 feet. There was about 55 cm snow in this location. You had to be extra careful to not have your columns crumble before finishing a test. We saw a very clear ECTP24 Q3 in the facets below the dirt layer. Can't really ignore that: full propagation in basal facets with a storm on the doorstep.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Low danger right now, unless you can find an area where a semi-cohesive slab exists over facets.

However, the loose snow on the ground presents many problems once buried. I imagine we'll see avalanches breaking in the facets in the top 20 cm of the pack, and we'll see larger avalanches breaking below the dirt layer. If the surface hoar survives pre-frontal winds and warmer precipitation, this is something else to pay attention to.

Photo above of familiar territory with a thin, sugary snowpack.

Photo above of snowpit right around ECTP24. You can see the dirt layer in the photo.

Forecaster Comments: great photos Kelly; indeed plenty of surface facets with scattering of SH;

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low