UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Reed and Benson Ridge

Observation Date
1/5/2015
Observer Name
chester
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Reed and Benson Ridge
Location Name or Route
reed and benson ridge
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Weather Comments
the overcast did not do us any favors today set up greenhouse, as snow wasn't able to radiate. very warm for January.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
big story today is the snow pack heated up. below 8800' snow was mashed potatoes, wet and slow with snails and pinwheels. changing aspects no help. suspect low snow is cooked, high snow is blasted. gotta look high and protected to find good powder now. Snow does not like rapid change (thermal state)
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
32 degrees at 8800. warm up forcast. quick pit on west side of reed and benson ridge. Found snowpack depth surprisingly low and weak-50 cm with 10 cm of depth whore.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate