Observation Date
12/23/2013
Observer Name
Kobernik
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Emma Ridges
Location Name or Route
Flagstaff ridge, Emma Ridges, back to Alta
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Mostly poor visibility with a few periods of clearing throughout the day. Mostly light winds with a few moderate speed gusts.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

The new snow was more user friendly than I anticipated. I was thinking it was going to be very upside down with difficult trail breaking and submerging skis on the decent. Not so. A distinct rime crust formed overnight and was present on the southerly aspects at all elevations of the Flagstaff ridge. I noted that it was present anywhere I poked into the north facing slopes in upper Days Fork. It will be interesting to see the extent of this crust around the central Wasatch.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I did not actually physically see any red flags today but I am well aware that a poor snowpack structure exists on those north facing slopes I was looking down into Days Fork.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

The knowledge of the poor snowpack structure is enough to keep me off steep west, north and east facing slopes. I did get a good look into Days during a clearing and did not see any natural avalanche activity from the storm. I walked along the ridge, poking and prodding but did not get any collapsing or cracking. I would say that things are not 'hair trigger'. However, I do feel that it is quite likely a person would trigger an avalanche if they get onto steep slopes.

The Persistent Slab problem is not present on the southerly slopes which is why I chose this route today. I felt quite comfortable on the southerly aspects. My partner and I still skied one at a time, mainly sticking to ridges, and stopped in safe locations keeping an eye on each other. Seems like things were fairly stable on the Emma Ridges although I wouldn't feel too comfortable skiing down the gut in one of the many gullies.

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