Observation: Sunset

Observation Date

1/4/2018

Observer Name

Glew

Region

Provo » Snake Creek » Sunset

Location Name or Route

Snake Creek

Weather

Weather Comments

Warm calm day in the mountains with some sun and cloud cover.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

Thought I would find some soft untracked old snow on the east side of Sunset Peak going into Snake Creek but I was wrong. Found a mixed bag of soft snow and wind crusts even in the protected trees. Surprising.

Red Flags

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

I gathered that the slab had lost strength so I decided to go check it out. I could not find a slab on the east side of Sunset Peak. It seems like the avalanche problem is becoming less of an issue in protected areas. I would assume you could still potentially trigger something in more exposed northerly facing terrain. I avoided the upper reaches on the north side of Sunset peak for this reason as well as the skiing looked rather horrendous.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Observation: Sunset

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