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Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
1/13/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Mill D/Bigwater/Nipple/Soldier/Butler
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Warm damp day, dried out a bit in the afternoon. Sky mostly obsurced by fog. Wind did scour exposed areas on the Nipple. Wind was mainly calm with a few periods of light to moderate midday. Some minor transposrt on the BCC/Millcreek ridge. A lot of rime and acicular feathers on the trees today.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Generally 14" settled above 9000' slightly less lower. Slight inversion, hard trail breaking and yes bottom feeding in places.

Sunny aspects damp below 8000' some roller balls, will be a crust in the am.

No detailed pit today, spent the time on 15 or so Upper and mid pack ECT's all over the place. All easy to isolate and ECTN. Some rough breaks in the middle of the storm snow at the top of the inversion, no shears at all. Storm snow is bonded well in this area.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I expected more sensitivity with the water weight. Some minor wind loading and associated localized (non shooting) cracking along the BCC/Millcreek ridge. Minor I know the underlying snowpack is weak in this area, I was there Sunday. I was expecting some collapsing but heard/felt none. I don't think the new snow overloaded the poor snowpack structure in this area today. In summary all red flags were minor today, kind of the size you would put on a cupcake, not a flag pole.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Along exposed ridges, I assume that they may be more substantial in the alpine.

Moderate danger

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Wet avalanches will be an issue if the sun comes out and the temperature forecast is correct.

Low today, Moderate tomorrow.

Comments

Went to Soldier Fork twice this week. Confirmed that it is a difficult place to ski until we get another big cycle to clean things out.

Hard trail breaking today.

Bret's forecast was dead-on this morning. I thought the point about assuming considerable until you prove otherwise was good.

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