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Observation: Pine Creek

Observation Date
12/1/2017
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Southwest » Pahvant Range » Pine Creek
Location Name or Route
Pahvants - Pine Creek
Weather
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Calm day, valley was inverted. Walked a couple of miles of mud to reach snow.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow down to 6,000' in shady areas, spotty.

Shady areas have continous coverage above about 7,500' or so.

Above 8,000 feet in shady areas there is about 5-6" on the ground consisting of a basal 2-3" of decomposing melt/freeze forms, 1 finger.

The upper 2-3" is composed of decomposing to faceting snow from the storm early this week.

Some surface hoar in places.

I started at 6,000' and stopped at 8,500' when it got annoying to be punching through the basal layer when walking in the snow. I was on foot, not enough to ski.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Red flags are future. Based on what I saw today, there is enough snow to warrant concern in this area when winter decides to start. Definitely enough snow to initiate a collapse. I walked to the base of some large slide paths, I would imagine that there is more snow 1,500' higher in the starting zones, which received 8" in the storm 2 weeks ago and also likely contain deep areas of pooled graupel from the same time period.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,500'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments

Photos below:

1. Surface Hoar, 7,000'

2. Kitty cats are traveling in the area.

3. Snow cover @ 8,000'

Based on 2nd hand information, there is a lot less coverage in the Tushers.

High Norths may have to be avoided if we get a large storm.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates