Observation Date
2/14/2017
Observer Name
Hardesty, Magerl
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Glorious. Warm in the sun; cool in the shade. Perfect weather for continued weakening of the snow surfaces on the northerly aspects.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Isolated wind effect noted in travels from Red Baldy to White Baldy. Surface hoar up to 1cm+ in low elevation areas and along the drainages. Melt freeze crusts with some potential radiation facets just above the crust noted...that should likely fade away with more sun/wind over the next few days. Weak snow surface from low to upper elevations in the northerly aspects...with size 1+ loose facet sluffs easy to prod in steeper terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Mostly low danger but for wet and dry sluffs, cornices, and possibly glide releases in BCC.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,900'
Comments
Size 3 storm slab previously noted from the 11th, failing on 2-3mm graupel, though now unreactive as expected. Enitre east face from Lake Peak to White Baldy roughly 2' deep; similar slide at similar time on Lake Chute in Red Pine - which incidentally propagated over onto the standard boot track to gain the LCC/AF ridgeline.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
