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Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
11/27/2018
Observer Name
Grainger
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
PC Ridgeline/West Desolation
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Low and mid-elevation solar aspects have felt the last days' sun and developed quite the zipper crust. The northerly aspects remain loose faceting powder with a good crop of surface hoar growing in sheltered areas.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Traveled Willows-->West Monitor-->Square Top-->West Desolation to connect the dots on some of the PC Ridgeline's more dynamic terrain before this week's next snow. Consistent with the past days, had widespread collapsing and <150' shooting cracks on many surfaces that held old snow. Right in line with Hardesty/Torrey/Wilson's Obs. I found multiple West aspects that collapsed upon weighting. Many N and E faces near the PC (Square Top, McDonald Draw) and West Deso ridgelines had evidence of natural activity during the storm, most failing on the facet-on-crust layer but some failing on the density change that happened Saturday morning as the cold front took effect. Along McDonald Draw above The Canyons Resort I was able to consistently developed, weak facets on the October crust remnants that easily propagated in ECTs. Interesting was where terrain was rocky and steep and basal facets were not evident how the cracking would go to the ground, not just to the crust.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Facets are very weak above the crust on mid and upper elevations on the north half of the compass.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Surface hoar in sheltered spots as it gets buried this weekend
Comments
Cracking on W-->E slopes, particularly where wind-exposed. Cracking in steeper rocky terrain went to the ground.
Natural activity on multiple N-->E faces near ridgetops.
Video
https://vimeo.com/303184124
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates