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Observation: GE Hill/Skyline Summit

Observation Date
12/23/2013
Observer Name
Darce Trotter/ Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Fairview Canyon » Blind Fork » GE Hill
Location Name or Route
GE Hill
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
very low vis, riming event in full swing, down right muggy compared to recent cold weather, did not want to venture too close to edges due to low vis, but crunchy riming everywhere
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

storm totals since early Friday were 15 cm settled at Miller Flat snowstake, total still a skimpy 65 cm. Riming is the headline with 1/4" crust already formed, and fog rime still underway above about 8000'. Noticed cloud deck was widespread including Nebo, Mt Loafer, etc, extreme southern Wasatch.

New snow seemed fairly bonded to old snow with right side up conditions in the upper layers, but in mid elevation sheltered N facing shadows, much weaker snow still exists. If you have the bravado to point them down hill and keep speed up, you would float on the old snow layer, but on steeper breakovers or if you initiated too hard in turn, punching down would occur.

Cornices and wind loaded slopes were cracking but not really taking off, settlement has continued in warmer temps. Interestingly, the only collapsing we experienced was in sheltered low angle mid elevation, and we did experience one significant whomph but did not crack surface snow around us.

Coverage is slowly increasing allowing access to more terrain, but downfall, rocks and other hazards are still widespread, Fetches are blown to the rock with sagebrush still exposed.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
snow is adjusting to its new skin, but exposed wind loaded slopes still sensitive. Conditions not to be trusted as no strong bridging is occurring and as pack slowly builds, it seems to rot away due to infrequency and small size of latest storms.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

we called it pockets of considerable, wind loading fall down slope from ridgelines, and we kept away due to poor visibility, other wise hazard is moderate

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

not to be trusted

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,200'
Slope Angle
40°
Comments

snowpack at Miller Flat

visibility limited us

riming the headline

snowpit and discussion

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates