Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date

1/13/2017

Observer Name

Dustin

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter

Location Name or Route

Brighton Perimeter

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Weather Comments

Quick circumnavigation of Mt Millcent from Brighton and back. Sun came out for a few minutes around 2:00 and then retreated; upper Cottonwoods socked in with low clouds until around 4:00. Low visibility but warming temps and not a breath of wind.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

Still great snow on all but West facing where many slopes were scoured. Firm wind drifts and large cornices along the ridgelines. Mostly supportable, right side up and higher density snow. Would expect that this will all change tomorrow with some sun and what looks like significant warming coming.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Red Flags Comments

We were still wary of the steeper slopes today, especially after having taken a look at the slide pulled out by (I assume?) Solitude patrol above the Highway traverse (East facing). Did not get a worthwhile photo of the thing, but the crown was up to maybe 6' deep and ran maybe 600' vertical down toward the flats above the lake. Would have taken out the bottom part of the normal skintrack up to Twin Lakes Pass.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

Experienced some cracking in fresher drifts yesterday, did not find that today but did not venture onto anything steep or with evidence of heavy loading.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

Just wondering what layer was activated in the slide above the Highway to Heaven. It broke just under the ridge with maybe a 2' crown and then looked to step into a deeper layer underneath the cliffs above the traverse. Thinking probably the graupel layer noted by Drew and others involved. Again all the soft slab activity from yesterday seemed to have settled in the terrain traveled today.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

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