Observation: Albion Basin

Observation Date
4/25/2015
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Albion Basin
Location Name or Route
Devils Castle
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A little sun in the AM, started to sock back in around 2pm
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

The new snow was medium to high density and some what wind affected in exposed terrain, but it did a good job of keeping you off the bottom.

Comments

Went up to Devils Castle today since it has returned to it back country status., figured high north was the only option today. Did note some soft slabs that Alta was able to trigger in the new snow, and had that in the back of my mind when I was selecting my routes. I think the only activity was in wind effected terrain, dense wind slabs were noted on NE facing terrain features. With the sun poking through and some green housing taking place I would think that these wind slabs would settle out quickly. Skied many steep lines with no activity. Of note was the lack of a hard freeze in the old snow, I could punch my pole all the way down to the grip in most places and noted damp underlying snow. Photos, in and out weather, and some tracks in some half decent dense snow.

Hazard depends on new snow amounts and wind, things seemed pretty glued in place today with wet snow falling on a not so frozen surface, any new instabilities would be between todays snow and what falls tonight, it's possible that any avalanching would gouge down to the old bed surface.

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