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Observation: Twin Lakes Pass

Observation Date
2/15/2018
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Twin Lakes Pass
Location Name or Route
Brighton Back Bowls, Figure 8, Twin Lakes Pass, Patsy Marley ridge
Weather
Weather Comments
Overcast to obscurred skies. Westerly winds were moderate to strong, depending on the extent of exposed terrain. Upper elevation exposed terrain receiving the brunt of the loading. Temperatures remained true winter like and cold throughout the day. PI rates were at least S2 throughout the day with significant accumulations.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Excellent deep powder riding, especially on northerly aspects, with enough new snow to keep you off the old snow surface crusts. HSN: 14 inches, slightly inverted due to graupel layer 6 inches up from storm base. Winds moderate. Transport strong.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Two naturals observed both steep cliff lines where obvious week shallow snow was housed. Both slab avalanches and D1 in size, high consequence terrain. Both appeared to originate in the weak snow next to the cliffs and propagating downhill to widths of approximately 60 feet, running to slope transition: 100 feet. Soft slabs, storm slabs with wind contributing factor. Wind slabs 4 finger hard. Widespread cracking only in upper layers: 3 to 6 inches of soft wind slab. Stress cracks without failure noted in multiple steep rocky starting zones. Wind loading significant and widespread.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Storm Slab with wind aided contributing factor allowed for widespread reactivity initiating in the new snow with isolated areas digging down into the previous weeks snow event on E, N and NW aspects. See above for details on natural activity. These weak layers in the new snow should settle significantly over the next 24 hours.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Loose dry an issue today in steep terrain on all aspects; and loose wet may be a concern on Friday with the addition of solar input to the surface snow.

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