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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
1/26/2017
Observer Name
Mike H and Jamie B
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Rodeo Ridge
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Weather Comments
gorgoues day in the ogden backcountry today. Lots of snow, light winds, and the sun even peaked out for a bit. Cold temps, but the sun made skinning warm.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow conditions are all time right now. Skiing and riding on days like today are what we live for. Today is a day to remember. deep skiable powder with supportable snow underneath which made for fairly reasonable trail breaking this morning.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Multiple interaces creating the perfect anatomy for a slab. Small column tests revealed multiple failures on interfaces in the first meter of snow, however our large coulmn test (ECT) were not propogating.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Lots of snow out there and soft slabs are forming. Easily released in hand shears and fracturing approximately 30cm down. With any forecasted winds, this could become a much more touchy situation .

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

Multiple persistent grains in our snowpack, including our buried surface hoar. This morning compression tests revealed the weak layers, but our ECT was not showing propagation propensity.

Comments

Photo 1 - Beautiful morning on Rodeo Ridge

Photo 2 - easily triggered soft slab in hand shear

Photo 3 - all time conditions

Photo 4 - Multiple layers in the upper snowpack.

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