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Observation Date
4/16/2016
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter
Location Name or Route
Brighton Perimeter: Back Bowls, Stupid Chute, Wolverine Bowl, Lower Wolverine Chutes, Upper Mary Chute #3
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Winds remained active yet mostly Light out of the N and NNW throughout the morning hours and into the early afternoon. Temperatures rose rapidly and by 10:00 with the Sun a player. Minimal to Light Wind Blown observed in the Upper Alpine. Mostly Clear Skies with a Few to Broken Skies.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
9"
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

New Snow in the past 24 hours appeared to be 1 to 3 inches. Storm Totals in the area traveled appeared to be at least 9 inches; and with the rapid settlement, Wind affects, and Spring like conditions the New Snow was much more dense today than on Friday. As a result the riding was a bit more slow and based up allowing the Steeper terrain to ride better. Significantly more Wind damage today in the Alpine. Intermittent Cloud cover in the mid-morning hours appeared to help dampen the Snow Surface with Greenhousing observed on a variety of aspects even in the Upper Alpine. This problem was Isolated, yet the High Angle of the Sun did much more damage than the Greenhousing. By the end of the day, it appeared that Cold Settled Powder survived on only NNE, N and NNW with Slope Angles greater than 25 degrees. Crusts will be found on all other aspects on Sunday.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Previously mentioned damp basal facets may come into play in the next few days in the mid to late afternoons as the temperatures return to more unseasonably high figures. Fortunately overnight Lows should continue to help with refreezes. Of Note, the minimal M/F Crusts that were observed over the past few days were showing signs of improvement today. 1 inch Crusts observed on Friday had grown to at least 4 inches with the cold overnight Lows; and the damp Snow Snow that was at least 1 foot down was not as saturated today on Slopes in the Alpine. Overall, challenging riding conditions will be present for the next few days as the New Snow from this latest event cooks down and becomes supportable. The only Avalanche Problems observed today were Wet and Dry Loose Avalanches. Wet Loose were observed as expected on steep slopes that were experiencing direct Sun Shine; and yet the Cool Northerly Winds appeared to keep this activity to a minimum in the Alpine. Observations were only completed up until 1330 hours, so there may have been more activity later in the day. Dry Loose were still being triggered by Riders on very Steep Terrain. All were predictable and manageable.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

See Above, and these issues may still be lingering on Sunday with the Winds decreasing and the forecast intermittent Cloud Cover allowing for more intense Greenhousing.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Travel in the mid elevations on aspects on the upper half of the compass with thinner Snowpacks may still present issues in the heat of the day with Isolated and possible Persistent and Deep Persistent issues as the Snowpack continues to transition to a true settled Spring/Summer pack.

Reports of Sensitive Wind Slabs and Activity on LSB indicated that the Northerly Winds from the past 24 hours had typically loaded Leaward aspects. The Graupel Layer from earlier in the Storm may have provided a Reactive Weak Layer that allowed this Propagation. With Saturdays daytime highs and Solar this problem may decrease by Sunday after another night of Refreeze; yet it may be wise to investigate this possible Isolated Instability with quick hand pits on the very Steep Southerly facing Terrain at the Highest Elevations.

In areas traveled today, the Hazard appeared to be mostly Low today besides the possible Loose Wet Activity observed that was Moderate. Travel below 8700 was not observed.

Hazard on Sunday appears it may be similar.

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