Observation Date
2/9/2016
Observer Name
Joey Dempster
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » Timpanogos » Primrose Cirque
Location Name or Route
Primrose Cirque, Timpanogos
Comments
In the Falls Couloir (above 2nd Falls), off to the side, I measured 235cm (almost 6 feet) of snow on the ground! I think this was on the high side, but in general, the snow is deep and stable in wind sheltered areas on timp. Stability tests in this area did not budge (ECTX and CPST 80/90 with a collapse but 0 movement). Columns, as they have been for a couple of weeks in all of my tests, can't even be pried off of the old january facet bed surfaces that were causing problems a few weeks ago. I'm still mindful of that layer, but I'm about to put it to bed mentally for good after another few days of nice weather. It just isn't showing any signs of weakness at this point.
The hazard I observed today was generally low, all the way to 10,000 feet, with the exception of the obviously loaded steep starting zones which I treated as if they were "moderate" hazard, but, as mentioned above, in the few places where we did get to ski cut this snow, it didn't budge. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say that hazard is actually LOW at this point, at least in Primrose, and also having skied steep powder in Snake Creek on Monday with no signs of instability either in shovel tests or ski tests. If there is a potentially active deeply buried weak layer left in the snowpack, I haven't seen it in a week of looking very hard.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low