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Observation Date
11/13/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area
Location Name or Route
Alta, Ballroom/East Baldy
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Clear, calm and warm in the sun. Good news is that souths may melt outprior to the onset of real winter.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Walked into some untrampled areas to see just how weak the snowpack is and how it compares to what I saw in the Tushers this week.

HS- 16 to 18" at approx 10,000', basal 4-6" are 1-2 mm, loose, dry, weak fist hardness (only because there is not a weaker rating) facets.

Upper snow consist of 12 to 14" of fist hardness decomposing snow, my guess is that this layer will continue to decompose in sheltered, shady areas.

Ski penetration is to the ground in this area, generally unsupportive.

I did not observe a basel ice crust in this area as I did in the Tushers.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The weak snow is a current and future red flag, I don't think it could handle much of a load.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

I would still call it a storm/wind slab over facets. There are areas of visible drifting, I imagine that it would be possible tp trigger a slab in these areas.

This situation will likely turn into a persistent slab/problem with time and additional snow.

Moderate hazard in wind affected areas, isolated.

Comments

The main hazard is the thin snow combined with nice weather, I would caution folks to avoid the lure of any untracked snow, it is simply to thin to ski. Most areas are mine fields of booby traps.

This is more of a public service warning than a detailed observation.

Moderate hazard is isolated.

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