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Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date
3/23/2018
Observer Name
Becca Babicz
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Grizzley
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Ascended from Grizzley lot at 2:45 p.m. and noticed rapid warming on all solar aspects. In true Spring fashion, wind blew in at 17 to 25 mph from W and covered sun.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Checked new snow/old snow interface at 10,000" and 9,500". At 10,000" shovel tilt test showed new snow/old snow interface not bonding well due to a graupel sandwich 10 cm to 15 cm from the surface. 11 cm of dense saturated new snow took on slab characteristics. Skied down N facing Patsy trees and noticed roller balls coming off my turns (wet loose) and cracking on steeper slope (wet slab).
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
New snow is heavy and saturated and sits on graupel gliding layer at 10,000" and rain crust at 9,500".
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Noted natural loose wet slides on W facing aspects and roof avalanches.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable