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Observation Date
4/16/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Solitude
Location Name or Route
Solitude Area
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Temps felt a lot warmer this morning than yesterday. Of note was that the winds seemd to have a bit of an esterly component, this changed our plans a bit, I tend to use caution with east winds. Sun started poking out when we left at 10 am. Wind was helping keeping the snow dry.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

HST seemed to settle out to 10" or so. Surface was a lot different than yesterday, even the sheltered areas were much denser than expected. Upper elevations were thick, drifted and slabby. Some minor cracking, soft no shooting cracks.

Snow is still well bonded to the underlaying frozen midpack. No breaks or shears in hand pits.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Wind loading was apparent in all exposed areas. Cracking was limited to soft cracking, I did not observe any shooting cracks. Rapid warming was not observed but with the sun coming out, It is to be expected especially if the wind dies down. Main concern this morning was wind slabs, this may switch to heating as the sun was coming out mid morning.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

In all exposed areas, including cross loading in some unexpected areas due to the easterly component in the wind today.

Moderate in the terrain we travel but I would expect a higher hazard in the alpine.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

With the sunshine.

Hazard will depend on how much cooling effect the wind has.

Comments

Observation from an early am trip. We started early left intentionally before any potential wet activity.

Hazard based on worst case with wind and heating from the high sun angle. Likely moderate in sheltered north aspects.

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