Observation Date
2/25/2018
Observer Name
Kosinski
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Twin Lakes Pass
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass Area
Weather
Sky
Few
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Light snowfall with lifting clouds in the morning. By noon, the clouds had lifted, the snow had stopped, and it was a beautiful bluebird day. Light wind all day that was transporting snow. Felt pretty warm in the sunny spots but very cold in the shadows.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Very light snowfall from last night. Did not seem to be breaking down in the sun and was preserved throughout the day.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Experienced all the red flags today. Triggered an avalanche and saw an avalanche both on the East aspect in wind loaded areas. In the one I triggered, there was cracking and obvious wind loading. Both of these failed on new/old snow interface. Experienced collapsing in various spots. The snowpack structure is still suspect in many areas, and especially in this area, there is a problem with the new/old snow interface. Once the clouds broke, the snow didn't seem to be breaking down but there was a significant increase in temperature.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Two storm slab avalanches failing on the same layer (new/old snow interface) on the same aspect. Both of these needed a fair bit of angle in the starting zone to get going but once they started, they entrained snow quickly. Over the coming days, the storm slab should stabilize but I would still be wary of any steep convexities/concavities in the slope.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Noticed a fair bit of cornice broke off of Patsey Marley. The remaining cornice was still quite large and they continue to form as even light winds are transporting this low density snow.
Comments
Wind slabs were forming during the storm and after the storm as the light winds carried the snow around. Noticed that the skin path that people had gone up only an hour before had already been completely filled in. I could also feel the wind slabs as I was skiing. In the sheltered areas, this wasn't much of an issue but on the open faces and chutes, this was (and will continue to be) an issue.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
