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Observation Date
1/16/2016
Observer Name
JWH
Region
Salt Lake » Parleys Canyon » Summit Park
Location Name or Route
Summit Park Peak - Peak 8618'
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Started out bluebird, but quickly changed to overcast w/ light snow and increasing winds and temps with the approach of the front.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2'
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
+/- 6" of new snow on top of old, faceted snow surface.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
6-8" layer of moist basal facets (F+ in hardness, 1-2MM is size with some rounding starting at the edges) with right side up slab (1F>4F>F) on top of it. Various micro layers throughout i.e. ice crust above 1F portion, old snow surface (melt/ freeze?) above 4F.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
As long as the basal facet/ slab on top structure is in play it's something to keep an eye on, especially given the depth (or lack thereof) of this snowpack. Additional weight, either natural or skier, could be the tipping point, but based on personal Obs in the area over the past few weeks, one would think that it is healing. That said, an Extended Column Test failed on isolation at basal later (ECTPV).
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,200'
Slope Angle
32°
Comments
Went for a hike with the dog in my "front yard" and wanted to take a deeper look at the snowpack (vs. just hand pits) to see where it stands after the xmas cycle and before we get much more new snow on top of it. Picked the East bowls of Summit Park Peak as this is an area I ski quite frequently, but is also plagued by a shallower snowpack due to elevation and location. It was immediately apparent when approaching the slope that bushes were still prevalent and poking through the snow surface. Some may look at this and think "anchor!", but once I dug the pit it was evident that the bushes were deeply woven through the basal layer. When setting up to perform an ECT, the column failed completely on isolation (ECTPV) within the basal facets and was non-planar (see photo - failed column in bottom with jagged, non planar surface). Not sure if this was due to the bushes or the fact that the entire layer of facets is weak and prone to failure. Either way, I wasn't buying that the bushes were acting as an anchor in this particular spot and I didn't want me or my dog to be the extra weight, so we skied an adjacent, lower angle slope.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates