Observation: Wolverine Cirque

Observation Date

1/31/2014

Observer Name

Dave Kelly

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Wolverine Cirque

Location Name or Route

Wolverine Bowl

Weather

Sky

Broken

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

Light snow fell throughout the day with intermittent clouds. Winds were mostly calm with light winds on the ridge tops later in the afternoon. No snow transport observed; although the top layers of new soft snow (varying from 10-25cm) are available for transport. Sun was in and out all day long. No warming noted.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

About an inch of new snow fell during the day. On steeper southerly facing aspects you could still feel the old snow surface underneath the new snow.

Red Flags

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Skied terrain on all sides of the compass. Only questionable snow was on a NE facing slope in Wolverine Bowl at 10,200ft. As soon as we traversed from an easterly to a northerly aspect something didn't feel right. The snowpack felt hollow and a quick pole probe showed us that there was a windslab that varied in depth from 10-20cm with 95cm of facets underneath it. This was a thinner spot in the slope. Probing in other spots showed that the wind slab was still evident, but there was more snow (facets) underneath it.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

Poor snowpack structure. Still not enough weight to tip the scales in the places that we traveled today. Although with increased winds from southerly and westerly side of the compass there is snow to transport.

Snow Profile

Elevation

10,200'

Slope Angle

37°

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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