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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
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