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Observation: Snake Creek

Observation Date
12/26/2016
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Snake Creek Pass
Location Name or Route
Brighton Periphery: Snake Creek and Pioneer Ridge
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Winds mostly Calm with an occasional Light Breeze out of the NW. Skies were Clear most of the day until 1300 when it became Few. Temperatures remained in the Single digits at Upper Elevations.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Despite the Sun making it feel warm, the Snow Surface remained cold and did not get damp and or Crust on SE, S and SW aspects at the Upper Elevations in Snake Creek; and as well at 8000 feet in Silverfork. Dense One Finger Wind Slabs up to 18 inches deep were observed with minimal cracking. The riding was a bit slow today in the Upper Elevations due to the Intense Cold Temperatures and the Wind Thickened Snow Surfaces in the upper 12 inches. In areas that had not been adversely affected by the Wind, the Storm Totals appeared to have settled out to 15 inches in the deepest places. The SE Winds from the initial part of the Event had scoured the most exposed Upper Elevation SE facing terrain. And, there was a PreStorm Zipper Crust that you could feel in these locations. Despite this, the riding was still good, and the best riding was in more Wind Sheltered terrain and features. OF NOTE: Mid to Lower elevations had the best undisturbed snow and riding.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Minimal Cracking in the previously described Wind Drifts appeared to indicate that in Isolated very steep Wind Loaded Terrain there was potential for this Wind Slab Problem. Poor Snowpack Structure continues to be a possibility with two areas where Easy to Moderate Shears were observed. In the Upper Elevation N and NW facing Terrain there was a Four Finger Plus Slab (20 cm down) that was overriding a 3 to 5 cm Fist Hardness layer of preserved Light Density Stellars. The other appeared to be at the interface of the latest event to the PreStorm NSF's, and this was located anywhere from 30 to 38 cm down. Hasty Pits did not indicate any propensity for Propagation at these potential weakness. And OF NOTE, there appeared to be very limited Avalanche Acitivty from the latest Event. The only Naturals that were obvious were in very steep Cliff type areas on the NE through N facing terrain features off of Sunset Peak in the Snake Creek area; and these were only small pockets that were mostly filled in at this point in time. Pictures were not even showing these well.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Lingering Wind Slabs as discussed above appeared to be the primary concern and Danger for today, and they appear to be indicating a Decreasing Trend. Yet in very steep Upper Elevation Terrain there continues to be a possibility for potential.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments

Until ruled out via multiple days without incident the Problem associated with the New Snow Interface to the PreStorm NSF's continues to be a possibility in very Steep terrain and mostly on the Shady aspects.

OF NOTE: With the Sun possibly adversely affecting the New Snow Surfaces for the first time, combined with Moderate Warming (Daytime forecast Highs in the mid to Upper 20's at Upper Elevations, and Higher Temperatures at Mid to Lower Elevations), the possibility for Wet Loose Avalanches on Tuesday may come into play on SSE, S and SW aspects.

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