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Observation: Snowbird periphery

Observation Date
2/22/2015
Observer Name
SZW/ Snowbird AAA Level 1
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird periphery
Location Name or Route
Mineral Basin/Mary Ellen Gulch
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Mostly socked in conditions in the lower Mineral Basin, but by noon the clouds began to lift and patches of intermittent blue sky were observed. Almost no wind on the ridge line between Mineral Basin and Mary Ellen Gulch. Temperatures remained cool, even with occasional sunshine.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
The weekend storm brought much needed relief to our powder starved souls. The northerly slopes held great blower powder on top of a supportable base of settled near surface facets in sheltered locations. Some sizable buried graupel pools were noted under cliff bands and low angle slopes in certain locations. We had our sights on skiing a few different aspects, but the solar input on E, S, W exposures on Saturday afternoon was enough to ruin the new snow in our drainages. Bummer.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Red Flags Comments
Some loose snow sluffing was noted on steep slopes on North and East aspect. Only consequential in committing exposed terrain. Otherwise, excellent stability.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Only problematic on steep slopes (>40 degress) with smooth running surfaces beneath the new 8-10" of snow.
Comments
No wind slab noted in any of our terrain today from Sinner's Pass to Baruska. (9400-9900). It was good to dig on a few aspects (North and West) and get a look at overall structure. The West face of Miller Hill sported 3cm of super fluff on top of crusted heavy snow from the previous 24 hours. Beneath that were a few crust/facet sandwiches sitting atop knife hard slab to the ground. The North facing Pagan Basin shoulder held 25cm of excellent new snow atop a settled 15cm of buried near surface facets on top of pencil hard slab to the ground. If we get a significant snowfall in the next week or so, those buried NSF could act as a weak layer. Otherwise, our CT and ECT test produced no fracture initiation or propagation.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates