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Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date
1/29/2015
Observer Name
chester
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter
Location Name or Route
martha lake area-dog lake-martha bowl-lower tuskarora
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
I thought as I drove up and saw frost that I might find some surface hoar. Instead I saw lots of wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mixed bag- anything I rode exposed to any sun or wind was dust on crust or just crust. NE facing exposed slopes - very crusty. Some pockets (of soft snow) still left-getting more challenging to find "good" turns.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
There is a bit of snow (recent dusting 2 days ago) avail for transport. snow was being redistributed in a variety of areas (off the ridges) above 8700'- altitude probably having more to due with where the light dusting was (high) than the winds. Skin and other tracks I saw tracks were partially filled (70%) in about 80% of the time. Where I was the direction was hard to tell-very swirley.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I did cross a few small fresh wind slabs on test slopes, they appeared to be well bonded to the bed (mostly sun crust), and did not add much weight. I left at 1:30 and snow was still moving around. Even with the perceived good bonding guessing possibility exist for wind slabs above 8800', guessing n and nw side of compass (never did get a good read on the direction) . There was some typical minor cracking, I detected no other red flags. I would have loved to have had a test slope with preserved facets to see what would have happened, hard to tell what is below the dust.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low

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