Observation: Davenport Hill

Observation Date

12/27/2016

Observer Name

Nick N, Sarah F

Region

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Davenport Hill

Location Name or Route

Davenport Hill

Weather

Sky

Broken

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Clear in the morning, with clouds moving in around 1100. Cooler in valley floor, warmer on ridgeline. About 24*F at 1100 on top of Davenport hill. Moderate winds in the 15 to 25mph range.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Really good skiing on N. Dry, low density snow to be found. Boot pen. of about 25 to 30cm. Wind slabs present. Sastrugi, cornice formation and various wind effect present along ridgelines and exposed terrain. Noticed the beginning of a zipper crust on the S. on the way down.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

One goal of my outing was to scout the effects of recent winds relative to new snow and how wind slabs are affecting our persistent weak layer. Noticed some sluffing on S. and E. terrain features along the Emmas and S. facing Grizzly Gulch area.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

Wind slabs although present seemed to be a manageable hazard. We dug into one in an area where I would expect to see the persistant weak layer and had no reactivity beyond the new snow (top 25cms)

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

Bottom 20cm of snowpack in this location was 1 to 2mm. 4F facets. I was not able to get any collapsing or failure on this layer.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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