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Observation: West Bowl

Observation Date
12/5/2017
Observer Name
Dana Holmes
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » West Bowl
Location Name or Route
West Bowl Silver Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Clear, calm, and COLD. It felt like midwinter, even if it didn't ski like it.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Seemed like 8 to 16" of snow depending on elevation. Beautiful, cold, world class, right side up Utah powder that seems to have fallen with almost no wind. Unfortunately, it's mostly sitting on bare ground right now. Forecast yesterday called it. Low angle with old snow underneath was the best bang for the buck skiing wise.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No directly observed signs of instability other than some minor sluffing. I was surprised that I couldn't even find anything resembling a slab. The old mess of crusts, facets, faceted crusts, crusty facets, etc. was enough to keep me off of steeper N thru E facing slopes, but it seems like we can mostly throw that problem in the anxiety closet and revisit it once we get some more snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate