Observation Date
12/10/2016
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Pass
Location Name or Route
Alta to Cardiff Pass
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Occassional light snowfall, but mostly just cloudy. Winds were variable, calm to light speeds at times. Moderate speeds and gusty at other times/other places and transporting a lot of snow. Evidence of previously wind at the mid elevations. Temperatures were warm, and it seemed the rain/snow line had been vacillating around 7,500'.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Intermittent snow wasn't really adding up to much. I was expecting punchy conditions, but the new snow was supportable for turning. Surfy, excellent turning conditions, even low angle slopes were fast.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
With the current forecast of more snow and wind overnight, I would expect a natural avalanche cycle to occur overnight.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The wind loading was eratic - on average drifts were about a foot deep, and up to 2 feet deep in a few spots. Some drifted areas were well off the main ridge lines on open slopes and on a variety of aspects. Just watching the winds switch direction multiple times while I was out showed why the drifts are all over the place.
Even out of the wind, the newest two inches of snow were easily cracking out on steep slopes, showing a potential for very shallow soft slabs or sluffs.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
There are a variety of layers in the upper pack two feet of the snow pack, with a lot of spatial variation. Most widespread is a layer or two of low density snow, perhaps faceted, that can be anywhere from 8 inches to 18" deep now. It seems to be on most aspects of mid and upper elevation slopes. With more snow or on slopes that are already wind drifted, there is a chance a slide could break into one of these deeper layers. But I'm optimistic that most of these layers will strengthen. Some of the sunny slopes (south through west) have buried thin ice crusts, poorly bonded in places. These may need watching for longer, but seem more isolated.
Comments
Small test slopes are a great way to start gauging snow stability. We stomped on a lot of these test slopes today, and wind loaded ones were cracking up to a foot deep, shooting cracks in places 10 to 15 feet long. Video below shows stomping on a small slope. I then extrapolate to a larger, steeper slope - in this case, avoiding the steep slopes with wind drifts.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
