Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
2/28/2015
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
PC Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
A little bit of light in the morning quickly giving away to clouds rolling in from the SE. Cold on the ridge line with strong to moderate winds from the SE.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Five inches of new snow from Thursdays storm, dense and creamy in wind effected terrain, light density powder in sheltered terrain.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Comments

Went up to the PC Ridgeline fairly early to try to get some skiing in before the clouds and wind rolled in for the day, not early enough, upon reaching the ridge the wind was blowing fairly hard from the SE and the clouds were already rolling in. It was easy to see that the SE wind was cross loading the N-NE part of South Monitor, you could see the wind slabs forming on the skiers right of the peak. Noted some natural activity in the right corner pocket of South Monitor right off the bat, and the E-SE facing part of the bowl was completely scoured of new snow in the top. After a run I was walking the ridge heading for No Name and started to get some small wind slabs to crack out, one large wind slab cracked out sympathetically to a smaller one that I had triggered, figured that one was worth putting on the avy list. As a rule of thumb most of the wind slabs were shallow and not of much concern, but the larger one did get my attention. Of note is how fast the wind was loading the leeward slopes, by the time I was done screwing around taking photos of the larger wind slab, the one foot crown was almost filled in with a new wind slab. I would expect these wind slabs to become larger and a little more menacing if the wind continues to blow through the night, the bonding is not great in places with a steep angle and a hard bed surface, and the light density snow is easily transported by the strong winds. Photos some of the smaller wind slab activity from the day, the wind filling in shallow fresh crown, cracking on the ridge line.

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