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Observation: Little Water

Observation Date
2/9/2016
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Little Water
Location Name or Route
Mill D to Little Water
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Beautiful, bluebird day with very warm temperatures up above the valley smog.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

The very warm temperatures and sun have put a sun crust on most all aspects except straight north. The old, worn out powder is pretty tracked out since it's the only show in town.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
The main problem is wet activity.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #1 Comments

The old guy is back in action, filling in fieldwork for Brett Kobernik while he's injured. I was looking specifically for wet slab avalanche potential on the sunny aspects. I dug quite a few holes on south facing slopes from 7,000' to 9,000'. Although the snowpack is isothermal and the surface is definitely wet, I'm not seeing much strong percolation of melt water through the snowpack yet. Plus, I have not seen any obvious weak layers on south aspects where percolating melt water might weaken them further. Yes, there are several, buried, melt freeze crusts but so far I did not see any that were saturated.

The main problem seems to be wet, loose avalanche potential in the heat of the afternoon. I did not see much action where I was but I'm sure you can find some scattered wet sluffs especially coming out of steep slopes with shallow snow over rock bands.

Here's a little video on the wet slab potential:

Comments

I dug a snow profile on a north facing slope low in Shangra La at 8,500'. I did not find anything too interesting. The total snowpack depth is nearly 2 meters and everything is very solid with no shears. The only exception is an old layer of surface hoar about a foot deep. It reacts but you have to hit it pretty hard, with a quality 2 shear. I could not get it to react putting slope cuts on small test slopes or stepping above a track. It seems to be a localized layer and old enough to ignore.

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