Observation Date
4/6/2014
Observer Name
Hardesty and Wilson
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Grizzly>East Bowl of Silver>Quicksilver>Benson-Hedges into Cardiff>South Reynolds>Wilson Peak>Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Classic northwest flow warm air advection pattern with riming at the tail end of the storm. Intermittent visibility. Perhaps 2-3" during the day with at times fair wind drifting along the ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Northerly aspects still hold good powder; "off aspects" a few inches above breakable crust, southerly aspects mostly supportable, particularly on mellower slope angles and wider boards. Lower elevation northerlies have 2-3" above a breakable crust with damp grains beneath.

New 2-3" snow not bonded well to m/f crusts; perhaps some small squares from the phase change a couple days ago. Cracking adjacent to skin track, tilt tests confirm this; mostly academic in nature.

Mill Creek still has enough snow to ski to the gate; south Reynolds still enough snow to access the peak from BCC road/Reynold's Flat.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Mostly stable snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Something of a wet avalanche cycle perhaps upon us with 700mb temps rising toward +5C or so by Tuesday afternoon. Obviously the east, south, and west aspects will run, but the key is to not overlook the low elevation northerlies that harbor 2-3" that'll become active with daytime warming over the next few days. Plenty of steep gullies/terrain traps - even into Mill Creek - that could trip up the unwary skier/snowshoer on their way out.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Enough wind today that there'll be some shallow drifts along the more exposed aspects/elevations (predominantly south>east) that'll be sensitive to triggering in the morning. Those headed to the Cottonwood ridgeline slide paths in the morning may find a few of these along the south and east facing starting zones. Weaknesses noted at the new/old snow interface - perhaps some phase change facets that may still be sensitive in the morning -

Wet avalanche danger ratings sometimes difficult - but for tomorrow - clear skies, temps in the 40s or more - should be plenty of wet size 2 debris piles below the steepest, sustained southerly slidepaths in the afternoon

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