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Observation: Pink Pine

Observation Date
3/17/2018
Observer Name
Weston Deutschlander/Prival
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine » Pink Pine
Location Name or Route
Pink Pine
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Pounding snow thru the day. Periods of light snowfall to heavy. Graupel in the morning turning to dendrites. Wind was well behaved and generally absent at our low elevation.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2'
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

24" of new snow since Wednesday. Approx 12" new today was very light density (starting with graupel).

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
High PI is putting a rapid load onto a saturated snowpack.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Rounding depth hoar are saturated and full garbage. Multiple column tests have failed on this level. They were not failing on facets below the dust layer, our tests were failing only 10cm above the ground.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,400'
Slope Angle
34°
Comments

HS 175cm

CTE SC old snow from Wednesdays storm to todays new snow, likely failing on the graupel that fell early this morning.

DTTM Failed in one step but had an irregular fracture. Basal facets are saturated and moist, if you could impact that deep or in a shallow spot you could have a large avalanche on your hands at lower elevations.

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