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Observation Date
3/31/2016
Observer Name
Tyler Falk
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D South » Kessler » Argenta
Location Name or Route
Argenta BCC
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Calm off the ridgelines this morning with a little transport occuring on 10k ridges from the W/NW. Light snow in the early morning only accumulated a few cm of new snow. Temperature was right at freezing at the road which dropped to 22 deg F at 10k .
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Below 9k there was a sun crust under the few cm of new snow. Above that I did not notice any sun effect in the storm snow from this week which ranged from 35 to 45cm. Some isolated wind slabs in loaded terrain.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Only possible red flag would be some wind loading and crossloading at and above 10k.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Still some snow moving while making turns on the density change within the storm snow 20cm down on steeper terrain. Sluffs still noticed where you would expect them within the top half of the storm snow.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Although wet activity was not a huge concern today I suspect tomorrow with the clear sky's, warm temps and minimal wind that wet activity will ramp up in many locations but the high north terrain.

Picture 1. Minor cracking around turns.

Picture 2. Fracture in density change from a turn.

Picture 3. Large 5mm depth hoar found in a location with a shallow snowpack. 3mm grid

Picture 4. Test Plus Pit @10k on a North aspect.

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