Observation Date
1/14/2015
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Kessler Peak » Catchers Mit
Location Name or Route
Kessler Peak
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Beautiful clear morning, only a light breeze on the ridgelines, calm elsewhere. It was warm in the sun, too warm really, but stayed cool in the shade.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
15"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Yesterday's density inversion had mostly settled out, and the clear night dried out the top couple inches, making for easier trail breaking and skiing. It was getting pretty warm in the sun around 11 AM, but the snow was not quite becoming damp yet on east or south facing aspects. A little wind effect on N and E facing slopes near ridgelines from yesterdays NE winds, but generally light. Could get some very small (3-5' wide), very shallow (3-5") wind slabs on S facing right near ridgelines to crack out. Although small they were running pretty far.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
Lots of sluffs ran during the storm, most likely during one of the periods of intense snowfall, but the new snow was now stable where we traveled. As mentioned above, there were some very small wind slabs lingering on S aspects that loaded a bit with yesterday's little bump in winds. Pretty inconsequential. That said, we did adjust our routefinding in one place on a steep south facing slope with high consequences (above a cliff band) to avoid the possibility of getting pushed around. Would think they should be locked in place tomorrow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Hesitate to even call this an avalanche problem, as it was so minor, more part of what we just deal with as part of normal caution. Also, although wet activity may have been an issue later in the day, it wasn't yet when we exited around noon. I would imagine wet activity will be more of an issue tomorrow. Moderate for wet activity only.
Snow Profile Comments
Stability was not an issue, but dug a single pit in NNE facing Catcher's Mitt because I had not been here this year and wanted to see how things looked. Pretty homogenous and right side up. There was still dry, well developed depth hoar present, but its buried over a meter deep and well bridged. I could get a shear with a CT (21 taps, Q2) at the interface between the new snow and the couple inches from the weekend (just above a thin melt-freeze crust), but couldn't get any propagation in an ECT, not really an issue.
Photo shows all the sluffs that ran during the storm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
