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Observation: White Pine

Observation Date
1/20/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Dead calm on top of Red baldy.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

1" may be generous. Mostly Graupel.

Underlaying snow surface very variable. In the alpine a combination of knife hard thin (1-3" thick) hollow wind slabs to weak recrystalized wind-worked snow (photo)

Protected areas. Snow is denser than expected, I was assuming it would be weaker.

Stout sun crust on sunny aspects.

Surface hoar at 10,800 on the summit ridge (photo).

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Snow pack is still hollow in places but overall much stronger than last time I was in the area. I was still able to punch my pole down into facets while walking up to the spire (HS 130 cm, facets at the basal 15 cm). Some sluffing on steeper aspects in the mid-elevations during my exit (E and NE facing), minor Danger generally felt low, pockety wind slabs/crusts did not appear reactive and seemed to be lacking energy. Traveling was better than the skiing up high, as evidenced by us getting to the top without a single kick turn on the skintrack (photo), down tracks not worth a photograph.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Generally low danger

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Problem #2 Comments

Generally low danger, snow pack seemed stronger than expected in this area.

Photos:

1. Wind hammered snow in the alpine, good training for my partner who is considering moving to Colorado!

2. Surface Hoar on Summit Ridge @10,800';

3. A lesson in avoiding kick turns on the skin track.

Much of the alpine in this area looks very thin for this time of year

I think I am ready to say low danger (perhaps with a few pockets of moderate). This mornings forecast was dead-on.

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