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Observation Date
12/10/2017
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery
Location Name or Route
Alta Periphery
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Nice warm sunny day. Noticed a temp inversion today.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow surface is deteriorating. Found varying wind board that was supportable to unsupportable. Cold settled powder in low angle protected slopes. Seems like the winds have gotten on quite a bit of snow.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I think I managed to dig in one of the weakest spots in the wasatch today. North facing at 10,350 with somewhat rocky ground. Most of the snowpack was facets of some form or another. Although unreactive, this pile of weak snow will pose a problem once we finally get another storm. I was suprised by how shallow the pack was at this location at only 71cm. See snowpit graphic.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Definitely say the wind slabs today that were created over the last week. Although they were out there seemed stuborn to unreactive at this point.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,300'
Slope Angle
34°
Comments

Weakening snow pack out there. Thin with high TG over night is rotting the snow pack out. Probably dug in one of the weakest areas today. When we get another load (hopefully) in the future I would expect some avalanches to go on to the ground in some of these weaker, shallow upper north facing slopes. Picture of north aspect of Sunset peak

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates