Observation Date
2/6/2015
Observer Name
Joey Dempster
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » South Fork Provo R. » Big Springs
Location Name or Route
Big Springs, South Fork of Provo Canyon
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Strong gusty winds today moved quite a bit of snow, well down off of the ridgelines. While it appears that most of the wind damage was already done before I got there, there was still plenty of snow being transported all day long. Temps were warm, of course, but the wind kept snow surfaces relatively cool above 8000 feet, with damp surfaces in direct sun, but not outright melting.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The ultimate "mixed bag" out there right now. Glare ice on the trails, supportable melt-freeze crusts, sastrugi, creamy powder, breakable crust... you name it, you can find it, often in close proximity to each other. I found good snow and skiing, but I couldn't tell you how to find it, there seems to be little rhyme or reason for the location of the pockets of good snow, but it is possible to find it above 8000 feet. Below 8000 feet, melt/freeze crusts of variable supportability and wet mashed potatoes are the rule. Mid elevation exits are challenging.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Exiting the trees in upper Big Springs below the Cascade Ridge revealed the one avalanche problem for today: hard wind slabs, 8-10 inches thick. Extremely hard slabs, not quite knife hard but "pencil plus". They were present hundreds of vertical feet down off of the ridgeline. The snow underneath was new snow from Wed/Thurs. Compression tests yielded shears, but they were a mixed result for me because the first couple of columns I isolated would shear easily when nudged slightly from behind (as when cutting the back with a shovel and being a bit imprecise). After seeing this and isolating another column more carefully, I expected a low number result. This didn't happen (steepness of snowpit was 33*), but the hardness of the slab and the presence of poorly bonded new snow crystals underneath the slab convinced me and my partners to abandon the objective of reaching the ridgeline. Despite the positive ECT result, I did not feel like the setup was favorable. The slab was obviously capable of propagating energy long distances and breaking far and wide. This was an admittedly conservative decision, but the better snow was down in the sheltered areas anyway, so it didn't make sense to risk the exposed route. I would give it a few more days to become obviously welded to the snow underneath.
Other than the windslab, avalanche hazard was low today. In general, the snowpack is glued together top to bottom with no discontinuities. As for wet avalanches, the winds kept snow surfaces from really heating up today, so that hazard never materialized, at least at the higher elevations. There really isn't much S facing snow at the mid-to-lower elevations where temps were warmer, so no hazard there. Mid elevation N facing snow was quite damp and difficult to ski (mashed potatoes) but never wet enough to slide.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
