Observation Date
12/25/2017
Observer Name
Luke
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch/ Patsy Marley
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clouds passing through in the morning, choose the trees instead of open fields to help see where we were going. Light snow, wind moderate on the ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Variable snow conditions, most of it was heavy for the Wasatch but 'surfy' and perfect for a splitboard. Patches of either loose windblown powder or wind scoured snow made up the rest.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
It was not as reactive as I expected considering the snow density, the overall snowpack level and the density of the new snow. Hopefully bodes well for the lower layers rounding out in the next few weeks. I've added some pictures but am not going to comment about specific problems, I did some hand test and we tried to collapse a few cornices around Twin Pass area but didn't take an extensive look at anything. There are plenty of rocks and bushes still sticking out and all indicators point to being cautious and conservative with the weak snowpack.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable