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Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
3/15/2018
Observer Name
chester
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
green slope brighton perifery
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
some flakes, no snow moving but south flow. cloud cover most of day, sun thinking about poping out at times. seemed cold high, s snow at 10000 stayed dry while i was there, but exit at 2:30pm parking lot lower looked like a river
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
no need to dial up angles today. rime mixed in thus super fast snow. north felt bottomless due to spongy base. south crust harder, ticking bottom on tail angles steeper than 25. wont take much more snow to not tick on s. I mostly rode real low angle s.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
was able to get some real minor cracking to 2" deep in the new snow if i walked 1 foot above my skin track( not well bonded.) graple mixed in the snow, usually would guess pooling below cliffs, but for this storm mixed with light snow so maby didnt roll far.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
pit dug shows a strong, thick mostly 1 finger hard slab sitting on 4 finger facets and a lot of depth hoar. Snow feels firm and strong riding it, but pull out the shovel, bad structure.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #2 Comments
see spruces obs from udot.
Comments
small cornice addition from southerly winds pioneer ridge. top 15' of ridge slightly scoured from same. not much wind effect noted
1 pit dug ne @ 9500 (NNE ski pole points north) 135cm HS dust line at 90 cm, facets with the persistent layer 80 cm (ectx) did break ectp11 at 55cm on depth hoar but was on a bush, probalby not valid. resistaint planar. lots of loose dry depth hoar at bottom. poor structure. boot penetration south @10000 to ankle with snowboard boot. ski pen same. 2" crust below new snow supportable and hard. if I wiggle i break thru the crust to knee.
I read in the swag that pits dug in areas open to the public should be filled in. I hadnt been doing this for years because i didnt know, but been playing around with it. Doesn't take too long if you set biggest chunks aside instead of trundeling em down the hill.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None