Observation Date
2/21/2014
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Park City Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Partly cloudy in the early AM, to mostly bluebird mid morning. Winds were less than expected, generally 10-15, with occasional gusts into the mid 20's.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Perhaps another inch of new overnight. South facing was still soft and the winds kept the surface cool until nearly noon, but would imagine continued sun after that may have been sufficient for a thin crust on south facing tomorrow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Winds were not as strong as expected, but had formed a few soft slabs along exposed ridgelines, mostly limited to right along the ridge/under the cornice.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Found the new shallow wind slabs to be very soft and limited to just a couple inches in depth, very manageable. A small wind slab came out overnight in South Monitor, looked to be triggered by cornice fall, and ran a couple hundred vertical.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments
Nothing to add that Bruce didn't already mention in his observation from the previous day, or that others haven't covered from other areas; still not willing to risk skiing anything steep that has not already run. Continued overall moderate with pockets of considerable.
Comments
Photo of the cornice fall/wind slab that came out overnight in South Monitor. Early in the morning, you could see a shallow crown up under the cornice, looked to be about 6" or so in depth. Filled back in as new snow continued to drift in. Also, pretty hard to know if other parts of South Monitor slid during the past natural cycle, with poor visibility during much of it, but skiers left of the wind slab in the photo looked very thin, and may have run to the ground at some point. Didn't have time/a cord to look any closer.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
