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Observation: Argenta

Observation Date
1/13/2015
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D South » Kessler » Argenta
Location Name or Route
Argenta
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Noticable light wind above 9500', very calm below. Cloud/fog celing around 9000' around 10am. Sun peaking out early afternoon. Heavy cloud fog layer 7000' to 6000' on BCC drive in the afternoon. Fairly warm temps slightly below freezing most of the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Variety of snow conditions today. Down low fairly dense snow around 12". Mid elevations on Argenta seemed to hold the best snow, was still able to feel the bottom occasionally. Above about 9500' was seeing a thin light rime crust most likely from the cloud/fog. All snow seemed inverted and heavier than expected.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Not much rapid warming until the sun peaked out in the afternoon, but the moist air and moderate temps had a similar effect. Saw some point release sluff, loose dense slides but nothing connected.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Only seeing sluffs run on slopes steeper than about 37*. Sliding off easily when weighted. Many of the steeper little runnels in the upper Argenta trees seemed to have sluffed naturally during the storm, just a few inches of snow left above the old hard pack.

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

Already seeing pin wheels coming down on S. facing slopes, expect this to become a concern tomorrow with the sun.

Sluffing in the upper trees of Argenta, and the snow sluffed in the runnels and sitting on the spines in between.

Sun poking out in the afternoon.

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