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Observation: Powder Park

Observation Date
11/23/2014
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Powder Park
Location Name or Route
Mill D North
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Light to moderate winds, sun popped out few times, lightly snowing on and off.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

About 27cm of newer lighter density snow on top of 14cm of the earlier denser storm snow. Variable snow depths probably due to winds.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Constant collapsing (wumphing), loud, large areas, shooting cracks visable all over.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Snow was collapsing on the depth hoar layer, essentially causing our entire snow pack to go where steep enough. Looking at a 60cm slab avalanche possible.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
27°
Comments

The temperature gradient in the snow doesn't look great for the grains to start rounding, I would expect the new storm snow to begin to facet from the looks of the gradient.

Saw some large surface hoar growing last week between 7500' and 9000' widespread on NE-NW shady and sheltered slopes. Couldn't identify this layer today but that doesn't mean its not there, I would expect it to be around ~30+cms from the ground where my profile came from at 9k'.

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