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Observation: Red Baldy

Observation Date
4/9/2015
Observer Name
Aaron Rice
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine » Red Baldy
Location Name or Route
Lake Shot, Lake Peak N Chute, Red Baldy (Run), NE Red Baldy chute
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Bluebird in the am with clouds rolling in later. Most of the day featured scattered clouds and a very warm sun.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Early start made for great riding conditions on all aspects early, however as soon as the sun came out the snow got wet on all slopes from ENE-S-WNW. Above ~10000 slopes remained dry all day. We were skiing dense dry snow at 4pm off of red baldy.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
On our first run of the day we skinned up from upper red pine lake towards the No Name Baldy ridge. As we got higher up the slope at ~10400 we were on a sheltered due north slope at about 30-35deg. We noticed that the firm old layer of ice below had turned to facets and we started experiencing wide spread cracking collapsing and womphing. some were propagating out 20ft in all directions. Needless to say change our plans for the day. We went over to the slightly more NE lake shot and skied a couple great laps there. The underlying bed surface there was ice, not facets. There was rapid warming on all slopes save for high (>10000ft), nearly due north and/or sheltered slopes).
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Last week I found faceted snow above 10300ft in upper mill B on a due north very sheltered (from the sun) slope. Today we experienced Cracking, Collapsing, and Womphing on a due north, sheltered, slope at 10400ft. Though this is likely a minor concern for the tours most people have planned this time of year, if venturing into these high elevation due north slopes be aware that there is still a persistent slab issue present. I would put this danger at moderate on the select high elevation slopes.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The new snow was fairly reactive today. On steeper slopes(>35*) slope cuts were necessary to encourage medium sized sluffs before skiing the slopes. This danger should settle quickly, though heating can reactivate the slopes.
I productive slope cut on the North Chute of Lake Peak
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates