Observation: Emma Ridges

Observation Date
3/23/2016
Observer Name
Elliott
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Emma Ridges
Location Name or Route
Flagstaff
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Ice cream headaches all around
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
17"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Good skiing.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
We pulled out small wind pockets were sensitive on South and South East aspects both at ridge line and lower cross loaded features.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Comments
Did a quick dawn patrol on Flagstaff. We intentionally triggered a pocket at the top of the Flagstaff skin track (see photo). The pocket was 18" to two feet at its deepest. We skied down and Emma #1 and triggered more pockets (smaller, 6" or less and perhaps just six feet wide). I was surprised how low on the run we continued to trigger pockets. Not wanting to ski through the terrain trap-y gully at the bottom of the run we skinned back up and skied Emma #2 without incident. All of these pockets were totally manageable in the terrain we were in but would have been more serious in more continuously steep terrain or in terrain traps. Sorry, if I've gotten the Emma's wrong. I call Emma #1 the one East of the main Flagstaff ridge and Emma #2 to the next.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate