Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
12/9/2018
Observer Name
T Diegel
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Mill Creek/Alexander/Wilson
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
bluebird and awaiting another storm, as everyone knows
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
I'm getting my red flags from the reports that have come in, not from personal experience.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
like everyone else, I've been hearing about the near-ground facet development from the Oct storms.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
on/near ridges there has been some windslab development
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
28°
Comments
We did an ECT pit near the bottom of Wilson Glade that took a fair bit of effort to pop out on the facets at the ground (see video; we thought it would be interesting, but it wasn't; nothing happened. pretty much 1-finger hardness throughout. However, we did get a solid whoomph as we ascended the ridge near the top, but the WG shot did not slide? then we and 2 other groups skied it pretty hard. if the video uploads as poorly as my picture did yesterday...sorry. I'm kind of a noob at this.
I rated the danger as "moderate" - just as I did yesterday - because clearly (as the Mill Creek avy indicated) human triggered avalanches are possible, but seems like you gotta want them to create them.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate