Observation: Scotties Bowl

Observation Date

11/26/2014

Observer Name

Devin Earl

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Scotties Bowl

Location Name or Route

Scotties Bowl

Weather

Sky

Clear

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Light

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

At the lower elevations a melt freeze crust was forming in the shade after the heating of the day. At higher elevations there was consistent wind crust on open faces that were north - northwest facing and deep pockets of powder in the wind sheltered terrain.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

There was widespread collapsing above approximately 9600 ft on terrain that was northwest - northeast facing slopes. After a few larger collapses we turned around and did not continue onto higher steeper terrain near the top. There were a few shooting cracks mainly occurring on wind loaded slopes. Test pits showed the consistent weak faceted layer at the ground surface and columns were shearing off at the ground. Still not safe on North facing slopes that are steep enough to slide.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

The widespread weak faceted layer at the ground surface is continuing to make skiing upper elevation slopes unsafe.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

Wind loading from the past few days has deposited several dense pockets of snow that is overloading the weak layer beneath.

Snow Profile

Aspect

North

Slope Angle

33°

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Considerable

Coordinates

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