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Observation Date
3/7/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon
Location Name or Route
Wilson/Alexanders
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Another warm day, felt a bit warmer than yesterday.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Another seasonal mixed bag. South and southeast were damp mid morning. Some north exposures were starting to feel the effects of the warm temperatures. Still possible to find pockets of dry snow in very shaded areas down to 8,000. All south facing aspects were damp irregardless of elevation.

Upper snow surface is weakening on sheltered northerly aspects. Some surface hoar.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Warm temps are a red flag, A lot more rollerball activity today than yesterday. Poor snowpack structure - I am surprised by the amount of weak snow for march. Weak faceted snow in the Wilson Glade, Northwest facing Wilson into Alexanders and Depth Hoar Bowl. We backed off of skiing the NW facing shot from Wilson Peak into Alexanders after observing a weak shallow snowpack. 2 quick ECTs were ECTP11 and 12, Q2-3, failing on 2mm facets approximately 20-24" below the surface. Also observed very weak faceted snow below the recent storm event upper snowpack in the Wilson Glade . Looked at the avalanche in Wilson Glade, a portion of this is a repeater from the Xmas storm cycle (Photo below). A large portion of Depth Hoar bowl also ran as a repeater. Of note in depth Hoar Bowl is very weak, fist hardness below 14 to 24" of recent storm snow (Photo). Also included a photo of skinning up near the crown of the most recent slide on the lookers left side of the bowl. Overall a weak snowpack in this area, not much confidence for skiing steep aspects that have not run in the last storm event, treating the hazard as considerable but more likely it is moderate in reality.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

A lot of weak snow on northerly aspects in Millcreek.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Felt really warm today with a lot of damp to wet snow.

Comments

Photos:

1. Wilson Glade Panorama

2. Facets in Depth Hoar Bowl (below pole basket) overlain by storm snow.

3. Crown in Depth Hoar Bowl, we used the slide area to access the upper portion of the bowl, which had run at an earlier point in the storm cycle.

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