Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date

1/16/2017

Observer Name

Dustinq

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter

Location Name or Route

Brighton Perimeter

Weather

Sky

Clear

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

Clear and colder than I expected given the heavy inversion. Very little wind.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

Mixed bag with dry, loud snow in sheltered/shaded areas and damp/crusted snow on the sunny slopes. Really nice riding in sheltered terrain, lots of surface hoar and a generally weakening surface.

Red Flags

Rapid Warming

Red Flags Comments

Nothing of note in my view other than the weakening surface and the fact that most of the backcountry in the Upper Cottonwoods looks like ungroomed terrain at the resort. Did not spend any any time in wind affected terrain today, but did note wet activity on steep Southerly aspects.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wet Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

Would definitely have been wary of travel on steep southerly slopes this afternoon, especially now having seen Aaron's photo of the activity in Little Pine.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

Seems that there are still some shallow pockets to be triggered in the high alpine, although much of the bigger terrain in the Brighton Bubble was sent this weekend without evidence of much excitement. Did note on good sized sluff coming down the North face of Tuscarora, think it was the skier's right side of X Chute, which is really more just a large, steep, rectangular snow field than a chute at this point. Good setup for January, hope it doesn't rain this week.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Low

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