Observation Date
1/17/2016
Observer Name
Wilson, Rich, Diegel, Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Mount Aire
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Weather Comments
Had to look at photos to recall clouds at all: The feeling of warm sun was the most memorable part of the weather. Winds calm.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Wind had certainly affected the ridgeline and higher elevation subridges, but largely missed the mid-slopes. New snow seemed medium to high density and this may have been due to yesterday's snowfall with the warm front.
Below the surface, a dozen hasty pits revealed remarkably variable structure. On lower E aspects protected from wind loading we could draw a two-block profile: 1 ft soft ‘slab’ over moist facets. On higher north, a pit revealed crusts and graupel layers intermixed. In general, only wind affected areas had much slab to speak of; we skied steep east slopes with facets below but nothing of substance above.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Went to Mount Aire hoping to see or make avalanches in its thin snowpack, from the safety of a long ridge. Surprised by lack of redflag activity. Did hear one collapse and saw 15 foot arching crack associated with it; about 1 ft deep and confined to new wind slab. Other cracking localized to vicinity of skis, also on wind slabs. This was noted on the ridgeline itself and not represtentative of most skiable terrain. One avalanche a foot deep on 8,000’ NE facing appeared to have pulled out in last day or two. On a higher NE slope we kicked a substantial cornice which plowed 500 vertical feet and entrained new snow but failed to initiate anything of interest.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,400'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments
Slope angle steepens above pit location, and has a history: broke a lone skier’s tibia several years back. Snowpack instability not revealed in this pit. ECTN7 and 15 in new snow and new/old interface did not propagate and were characterized by not-so-smooth shears. Note that in areas adjacent to profile column, basal facets were harder and unalarming.
Despite minor cracking and a long-running slough, the snowpack we traveled felt mainly moderate.
Overhead hazard...Never let your guard down.
Another day in the Wasatch
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
