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Observation: Mary Ellen

Observation Date
4/21/2018
Observer Name
Zimmerman-Wall/Bremer
Region
Provo » American Fork » Mary Ellen Gulch
Location Name or Route
Mary Ellen Gulch
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Spring. Clear skies throughout entire day with just enough light wind to keep the snow surface cool longer than it deserved.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Shallow refreeze was best on southerly aspects. The SW facing on Barushka and Miller Hill held up well and were supportable, almost corn like. All other aspects and elevations up to 10,000' were a mixed bag of damp mank and the strangest breakable crust that was less than wafer thin. Sounded like breaking glass as you skied through it.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Warm, but not as hot as expected. Recent activity on all aspects other then SW. Glazed snow surfaces across the drainage by days end.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Roller balls from greenhousing yesterday on northerlies. Loose wet snow slides entraining more snow on steep (>35*) terrain around rocks.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The large cornices out there are definitely loosing strength and would be wary of the usual suspect ridgelines with behemoths lurking.
Comments
Photos: 1. Wet loose in upper MEG 2. Wafer MF crust 3. Evidence of Greenhousing on north 4. Roller ball central 5. Shiny glaze across the land by 3pm
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate