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Observation: Mule Hollow

Observation Date
1/23/2018
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mule Hollow
Location Name or Route
Mule Hollow/West Willow
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Clear skies and rapidly warming temperatures compared to the last few days. Overnight lows were in the low 20's and by 1030 it was approaching the mid 30's at 8000. Winds were nonexistent.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow was getting damp on ESE by 1000 and this effect traveled quickly around the southern end of the compass. By 1100 SE aspects were wet. Breakable crust will be in place on the lower half of the compass on Wednesday. Travel today was only up to 9600, and it was distinctly different that the previous day when all travel until exiting was above this altitude. Snow conditions were cold powder snow, but the settlement that has occurred since Sunday had made the new snow much more dense and actually the riding was slower and not as good. Obviously the higher elevations would have been different. Steep lines were ridden on north and northeasterly facing aspects.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor snowpack structure continues to be in place, and the depth of these areas is still only 40 inches at it's deepest with HS much less on every aspect but the north.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Steep rocky terrain with thin snowpack areas are still suspect. Overall the snowpack appears to be healing in areas with a meter or more, and this latest event appeared to be not supplying enough SWE to activate the buried weak layers. In the long run, this addtional blanket of insulation and minimal weight may be slowly helping move things towards better stability. That being said, there are definitely some suspect areas still lingering.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Warm sunny weather today and more tomorrow should help keep this issue alive on the southerly aspects.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate