Observation: Red Pine Gulch

Observation Date
3/8/2018
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine
Location Name or Route
Red Pine
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
High thin clouds moved in by 11 am after a clear morning, cutting off heating significantly again.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Only north and northeast facing slopes have soft dense snow left, with some surface faceting. All other aspects were crusted this morning - the high spring sun is hitting most aspects.

Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
9,600'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

Same suspect layering as on other aspects, but upper snowpack weak layer was stronger at this spot, and all ECTX.

While the widespread dirt layer from February 18th isn't currently a weak layer it's self, it is a great marker layer. Several significant recent avalanches have failed on a facet layer several inches below this dirt layer. So when you're digging down, find this layer and then dig below it, looking for a softer, weak sugary faceted layer.

Facets also exist near the ground.

Below: typical minor wet loose sluffs from yesterday, March 7th, on west facing slopes. It seems the clouds have off set heating for 3 days in a row, letting the snowpack adjust to the heat more slowly, resulting in smaller wet loose sluffs.

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