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Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
1/21/2018
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Big Cottonwood Saturday and Sunday
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Avy class on Saturday around Brighton: light snow through mid day, zero wind. A few breaks in the clouds late afternoon at the top of the canyon, still snowing mid canyon and down. Reynolds Sunday: Cold! Overcast til noon, partly cloudy after. Snow on most aspects should have been protected from the sun. Calm til near the summit, then just a little gusty, in the low teens.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Low density, right side up snow. Mid Big Cottonwood Canyon seemed to have as much, if not more, snow than the upper elevations.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

Did 2 snow pits on Saturday, at approximately 9700'. Northerly and northwesterly. ECTs did not propagate in either, but poor structure is so obvious, with several weak layers, which are really not buried that deeply. Still possible for a person to trigger, especially in shallower areas.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments

Winds drifts on Reynolds Sunday am were relatively deep (2 to 3 feet), but very soft and not cracking. Snow seemed to sluff less than it did on Sunday. Big take home is the large amounts of snow available for transport - will have to keep a close eye on the winds the next few days.

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