Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date

1/9/2014

Observer Name

b pelletier

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch

Location Name or Route

Alta to Twin Lakes Pass - Laps on Black Bess and Freeland

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

snowed the entire time, heavy at times, 9 inches new today on top of 8 yesterday = blower; winds started to ramp up in the early afternoon

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

17"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow was well behaved in Grizzly south facing terrain and seemed well bonded to the crust below, however we kept it under 34 degrees in slope angle all day.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Loading

Cracking

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Noticed a slab released avalanche up to 18 inches deep, 60 foot wide, ran full track on the notorious north facing roll-over you can see hiking up grizzly from Alta at the first flat spot. Hard to tell because of heavy snowfall but appeared to be a single track exiting the debris skiers left.

Comments

Wow! Blower conditions in upper Little Cottonwood today. Stayed on south facing and kept the slope angles moderate with excellent results. New snow seemed well behaved on Black Bess and the lack of slab was reassuring, only problem today was not seeing the obstacles in front of you or lurking just below all the fun pow. Depending on the wind speeds tonight we could be in for another 'best day of the year' tomorrow.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

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