Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date

3/17/2015

Observer Name

Glew

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch

Location Name or Route

Grizzly Gulch

Weather

Sky

Scattered

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Another warm day in the mountains. Scattered clouds and light winds kept things from totally cooking where I was above 8500ft. I ventured out of the backcountry to ski lifts at Alta around 130 pm.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

The snow was supportable and softened nicely on skis where I traveled on low angle south and north facing terrain. I skied in Alta in the afternoon and noticed the snow got even slushier than the day before. Fun spring skiing.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

I only saw a couple smaller slides coming off expected locations such as below cliff bands. However they are wet slides and if you get caught in one consequences are high. It didn't freeze for a few days and it seemed to get even hotter today. It doesn't look like we will get a deep freeze tonight and tomorow is forcasted to be another warm day. I would imagine the cooling tonight will not drasically stabilize our wet and weak snowpack and tomorrow could have similar hazard to today.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wet Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

I would assume that we need a solid refreeze before our potential for wet avalanches decreases.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Considerable

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