Observation Date
1/21/2016
Observer Name
Tyler Falk
Region
Salt Lake » Lone Peak
Location Name or Route
South Face of Lone Peak
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Skys cleared out overnight. Moderate to strong winds on 11k ridgelines. Off 11k ridgelines not much wind. Got done early so I dident notice much warming on the South aspects but suspect that they went off up to at least 9k.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Around 20cm of new moderate density snow on top of another 25cm of snow from earlier in the week. About 45cm of storm snow at 9500' on South aspects with a height of snow being 143cm. Seamed to be a density change in between storms. Snow heights varied from around 60cm at the trailhead (5300') to 110cm at the first hamongog (7000') to 130cm around the second hamongog (8000') to 140cm at 9000' and around 200cm at 10500'. Not much wind damage to the new snow fairly smooth coat of paint in my travels.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of red flags out there again. We counted eight collapses on our way to the second hamongog from the frist. Seamed like the "bridge" in that area was not strong enough with a snowpack depth of 120cm at 8200'. Dident notice any other colapases once we accended higher into a deeper snowpack.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Still my number one concern for a while now. Seam to be most likely triggered on North thru East and likely where they have already ran this year.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
I made wind slabs my number two concern today since I knew that there was available snow for transport and I would be done with my tour well before the sun warmed things up too much. Luckily the wind didn't get too far off the 11k ridgelines although there were strong winds up high loading some South East aspects.
Comments
Surprised to say that I did not see any new avalanches in my tour today. Possibly one wind slab in a steep south facing slope from a day or two ago. Snowpit tests on a south aspect at 9500' were ECTN11 Q2 20cm down from the top of the pack and PST 33/100Arr Down 45cm on the graupel / buried near surface facet layer.
Pics of snow transport and wind loading on 11k ridgelines.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
