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Observation: Patsy Marly

Observation Date
12/28/2015
Observer Name
Noel Stewart
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Patsy Marly
Location Name or Route
Patsy Marly
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light snow falling on summit
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
11"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow on the summit was wind-blown crust after first 200 ft. (vertical) turned to medium pow
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
cracking noticed on up-track where had been blown coming over summit. down the face there had been a pretty good sized run --at the cliff band and was about a 1.5' crown face noticed. But new snow on top of this run-out zone.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
storm slab and seemed some places deeper persistent slab, as well. There were places where cracking was noticed and separation about 4-5 inches which had not slid, so definitely looked like it could go with the right sort of trigger load
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
the new snow layer was sloughing in steep areas when taking a line down - it would slough and run past below
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southwest
Slope Angle
36°
Comments
top was blown down about 200 vertical- after through trees good turning conditions. Cliff band had run with about a 1.5' crown face and maybe 80' wide about 200-300' run-out. good turning conditions and did hit some rocks on the cliff band. slope degrees varies about 32 to 39 depending on location on the face. Party of one, so did not see possible effects for multiple skiers coming down-- expect sloughing and maybe trigger points could have become worse.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate