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Observation Date
12/23/2016
Observer Name
Brackelsberg
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Snake Creek Pass
Location Name or Route
Brighton Periphery / Snake Creek
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Beautiful morning before the front moved in. Skies clouded up during the day and winds switched to the West and picked up drastically around 14:30.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

A variety of aspect dependent snow conditions that included wind board, powder, and sun crust.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
East aspect ~9700' had a buried graupel layer North aspect ~9800' had a layer of near surface facets ~1" down
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

With the approaching storm and high winds, my biggest concern will be a combination of the new snow transport by the wind and the potential of a heavy load of wet snow on the current weak layers observed in hasty pits that were performed.

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

Same concern of persistent slab due to the deep facets.

Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
11,200'
Slope Angle
29°
Comments

Lots small layers observed in the snow pit. With a heavy load of snow, there is a chance some of these could become active.

A north facing hand pit at 9800' had what I believe was a layer of near surface facets. This had ~1" of new snow on top and then a weak crust. My theory is that that this could have formed last weekend during the very cold temperatures and a large temperature gradient created by the cold air and the crust insulating the snow below the surface.

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