Observation Date
3/27/2014
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Twin Lakes area
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass - Honeycomb - for photo shoot project
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Weather Comments
Spring snow squalls all day long, sometimes heavy snow with gusty wind and other times, sun poking through with less wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Low density powder on a hard, icy crust. Very little wind effect except for near ridges.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Very localized wind loading along the upper elevation ridges. Most wind slabs were shallow and soft.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

The new snow slid easily on the old, icy snow surface but you needed to be on steep slopes to get sluffs going--close to 40 degrees. Along the upper elevation ridges, there were localized places where there was some wind deposits but surprisingly few of them. Most of the snow was well behaved and any wind deposits were soft and shallow and did not pose much of a problem unless you were in high consequence terrain. From the observations that came in, a few people did find some wind slabs that they could trigger, and even catch people. But in the terrain we saw the snow was very benign. I'm guessing that these will settle out overnight.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

If we get any sun tomorrow, all the new snow will turn wet in a hurry and we will have lots of damp to wet sluffs on steep, sun exposed terrain.

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