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Observation Date
3/10/2018
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
Guard Road/10420
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Temperatures continue to get warmer each day for the past 5 days, yet overnight lows appear to remain below freezing even at 8000 feet. The day started out with high thin solid cloud cover, and by late morning skis were clear with intense spring time solar radiation in place.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Each day the window appears to narrow for cold dry snow. By the end of the day, even the shady most northerly aspects at 8000 feet with slope angles > 35 degrees had an ambient driven melt freeze crust. At 9000 feet there was still dense cold settled powder on these same northerly aspects with slope angles of at least 28 degrees and greater. Southerly aspects, in the middle of the day, got very wet once again with slope angles > 25 degrees.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Snow pits and hasty pits at and around 9000 feet appeared to validate similar poor structure as observed in the First Cornice Bowl avalanche, and this site is very close to where the pit was dug. HS was 132 cm and moderate to advanced size basal facets were showing signs of reactivity with multiple CTH SC scores. These facets had some signs of rounding, yet in the cold sheltered area where the sample was taken, these facets were dry and not moist in any way. This faceted layer was 10 cm thick and located between 25 cm and 35 cm up from the ground.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

See above.

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

Despite continued warm and sunny conditions, the excessive heat and sun continues to present loose wet potential in the middle of the day on the aspects receiving intense solar.

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