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Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
11/23/2014
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Willows to Park City Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Upper 1/3 of willows was wind affected. Heavy loading on PC ridge. Some grapuel during the day. Occasional sunny breaks.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

A good even coating throughout. Still brushy and not really skiing. Punchy airpockest in the bushes and weeds (see photo).

Two snow profiles

1 Willows area at 9800 feet, Southwest facing. Of note are the facets below the sun crust.

2. From the bench below the cornices on West Monitor, 9950' and NE facing, shows newly wind loaded storm snow on facets, ECTP4 Q2 at top of facets. Provided as an example of recent loading (uploaded as photo and unlabled)

Difficult to isolate columns in mid elevation shaded area, columns fail at top of facets. Where isolatable, very easy to shear/topple.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
One slide oberved after the fact, noted in seperate ob. Heavy wind loading into West Monitor. Soft cracking in new snow (facets). 60-70' crack on ridgline, 6 feet back from cornice edge facets were below 3 to 5' of wind drifted snow in this location. A few large collaspes on and near the PC ridge. basal facets on all aspects at high elevations (concerning).
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

New snow over facets (high danger on the north 1/2 of the compass). I am not sure how long the snow has to be in place to call it a persistent slab. It sure will be a persistent weakness!

Snow Profile
Aspect
Southwest
Elevation
9,700'
Slope Angle
25°

Not enough of a cornice to get anything going in West Monitor.

High danger on the north half of the compass above 9500' Considerable below 9500'

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