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Observation: Snowbird periphery

Observation Date
3/2/2015
Observer Name
Marcus Polli
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird periphery
Location Name or Route
Snowbird, Mt. Baldy Chamonix Cliffs, Mineral Basin
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Very low visibility, low winds mid mountain, got "high" at the peaks (20 MPH).
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mixture of some wet snow with mostly now, dry snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Crusted layer underneath that has iced over with a mixture of wet and dry snow on top creating very loose, heavy conditions for the snow layer on top, easy to slide down the hard pack ice on bottom layers.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Riding the lift up to Baldy today on Snowbird side of mountain. Caught a view of the Chamonix cliffs. No ski patroller up top doing work, just a pure slide that broke off into 5 different chutes. Lasted 15 seconds, must have fell at least 400 vert. It was quite amazing to watch actually, the first one I have seen at Snowbird. Nobody was hurt as that area is closed currently. Forecaster's Note: Please note this was a closed area, not open to the public.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable

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