Observation: Sound of Music

Observation Date
12/31/2014
Observer Name
Jake Hutchinson
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Sound of Music
Location Name or Route
Sound of Music - PC Ridge
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold and clear. East winds still moving some snow around right at ridgetops.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow has settled but skiing was still phenomenal.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Significant wind load on West aspects. Poor structure hasn't changed
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Mid-pack facets still suspect on any slope that hasn't avalanched.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

East winds moved alot of snow around. Normal cornices, were eroded and large drifts on west side of ridge.

Wind damage on east facing slopes

This ridge normally features a small cornice, but you can see how the wind eroded it and loaded the snow onto the lower angle west facing side.

Large sastrugi features on the ridgetops - all that remains of a very large cornice that was here last week. Pics below show evidence of a small slide sometime during the storm that got snowed in. Wind eroded around the old debris, small D1 slide in main bowl Sound of Music. Didn't have alot of time today and it was too cold to stop and dig a pit anyway. No signs of instability observed, just really good skiing. Happy New Year Everyone!!

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