Observation Date
12/20/2013
Observer Name
Gavin
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass/Grizzly Gulch
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Temps in the mid teens with very calm wind. Light snow throughout the morning with no remarkable accumulations noted.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
East facing twin lakes pass riding conditions were excellent. Right side up snow from this storm lay on top of a hard sun affected layer from last weeks high pressure system parked on top of us. New snow density is heavy, but with a very light layer on top. Suspect the top layer to be lake effect precip.
West Facing Grizzly (Black Bess) snowpack approximately 34inches deep with a hard layer 10'' above the dirt. Entire snowpack was very stable, and riding conditions excellent. A few rocks still poking out, but the snow cat run is in from the top.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Collapsing on the ENE aspect of Twin Lakes Pass. Noted only when skinning, and with a heavy foot attempting to solicit a response from the snowpack. Not very widespread, but we never ventured onto terrain steeper than 30 degrees.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
East, North, and NW aspects all hold the sugar under the new snow. Poorly bonded with no signs of healing.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
New heavy snow now draws the crowds out of their hiding spots, and into new terrain. Wind drifts noted on western aspects with very little noted wind affected snow on the Eastern aspects of TLP.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southwest
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
28°
Comments
All in all low angle terrain holds the best riding conditions from our experience today. Steeper terrain was subject to sloughing, and as a result is owning the thinner snowpack. Plenty of large boulders still protruding from the glades of Twin Lakes Pass so we chose to ride beneath the pass proper, and were rewarded with wonderful turns. East facing pit depth (just behind the Solitude resort signage on Twin Lakes Pass) was 38 inches to the dirt.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
