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Observation: Superior

Observation Date
2/11/2015
Observer Name
J.Spitzer
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Superior
Location Name or Route
South Ridge Superior/ Cardiac Bowl
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Pretty nice day to be out in the mountains. Warm temps, clear skies, and light-moderate wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Climbing up Suicide chute there was ~10-12cm of new snow on top of the old surface. Boot pen in the Suicide Chute was 30-40cm. Once on the South Ridge, we encounter 3-5cm of top of a firm M/F crust. Most places boot pen was only 10cm and crampons were required with occasional spots of thigh deep snow up high. By 10:30am the surface snow on the South Ridge was becoming damp. Most of the steep rocks steps on the ridge are snow free and involves more mixed alpine climbing then normal for this time of year.

Cardiac Bowl had good quality skiing with lots of tracks.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Some of the cornices on the South Ridge are hollow and starting to crack away from the ridgeline. I would assume this is starting to take place in other parts of the range. The cornices are smaller then normal.
Comments

Saw minor wet activity on solar aspects by mid-day and early afternoon. Solar aspects by early afternoon had become damp and sticky.

Good cramponing up high on the South Ridge, with ~5cm of new snow that became damp by mid-day.

Looking down the ridge with cornices overhanging the ridgeline. Typically the cornices are much bigger and more snow on the ridge then now.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None