Observation: Alta Ski Area

Observation Date

5/9/2014

Observer Name

Cawley

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area

Location Name or Route

Collins Gulch

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Moderate Snowfall

Wind Direction

West

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

After a warm, wet afternoon with upper elevation, moderate-strong WSW winds and a couple periods of high PI, clearing ensued at around happy hour and temperatures dropped significantly.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

15"

New Snow Density

High

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Dense Loose

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

Skiing was difficult in the mid afternoon, with %100 humidity, warm temps, and no vis making a one and done seem prudent. However as clearing developed, snow dried out and became excellent, surfy powder skiing that will remain good tommorow above 9K.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Red Flags Comments

New snow seemed glued in place below 10,200', where new snow is extremely dense and slightly greenhoused, and winds have been less active. On Mt. Baldy, a couple skier trigged class 2 slides occurred in predictable locations. If wind continues to blow over night, I would imagine the big paths on Mt. Baldy will be pretty avalanchey tommorow. Although todays slides were definitely within wind-loaded snow from overnight and this afternoon--not stepping down beneath yesterday's snow to the brown stuff--several collapses occured in wind shelterd terrain, likely in loose, damp snow beneath yesterday's greenhoused snow surface. Perhaps significant additional loading could activate this weakness?

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

New snow is well behaved in most places. Along upper elevation ridgelines, large, hollow windslabs are widespread and easily provoked. If winds persist overnight, these will remain sensitive.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wet Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #2 Comments

A period of sunshine mid-day would have made wet, new snow slides easy to initiate. Any periods of sun will make snowsurface unskiable, and any avalanches in the mid elevation slopes would gouge into the middle snowpack. The snowpack is wet throughout, offering no resistance to pole probing. If we get significantly more SWE over the weekend and it remains warm, I would start to think about deep slab avalanches in deep snowpack areas where loose grains on the ground continue to exhibit poor test results.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

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