Observation Date
12/21/2013
Observer Name
Jim Harris
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Monitors » West Monitor
Location Name or Route
West Monitor flats
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Calm
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
A mix of stellars and rimed flakes fell during a series of squalls. Not bad turning on low angle, if you steer clear of the stumps.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Near surface facets that formed in November produced CTM and ECTM Q1 failures. In the area we explored, the overlying slab was also weak. We were concerned enough about the avalanche hazard that we decided to demo column tests on a ~29 degree slope rather than the ~33 degree slope that we'd initially discussed using. It seems like, unless some typhoon of a storm hits the snowpack reset button, we'll be talking about these faceted layers for a while.
Comments
Repeated CT, ECT, and Ruschblock medium scores while demoing tests. It's a good snowpack for Level 1 discussion, if not for schussing in avalanche terrain.
Video
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
