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Observation: Lambs

Observation Date
12/16/2018
Observer Name
Grainger
Region
Salt Lake » Parleys Canyon » Lambs Canyon
Location Name or Route
Summit Park/ Lambs Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Daytime warming is having very apparent (negative) effects on surface snow. Air temp. in the low 40s creating a relatively moist upper few centimeters, even on due-North aspects up to 8400'. Great for skinning uphill without skins.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A 35cm snowpack on shaded, N-facing, 8500' slope at the PC/Lambs Canyon ridgeline presented weak snow in the shallow pack and an overall lack of structure. Though a ~5cm thick 1-2mm rounded facet basal layer showed weakness, a little moisture and the prevalent flora growing through this layer was reassuring for when a new load falls on top. On top of that lay a very deteriorated 4F- version of early season crust and 25cms of F-hard layers of the last month's storm layers. Significant settling has happened in the last week on this Northerly aspect, more on solar aspects.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Snow here is weak all the way through. Though no slab exists on top in this location, a weak facet layer near the ground still has some potential in the right circumstance if/when a load is added on top.
Comments
1-2mm rounded facets in bottom 3-5 cms.
A thin 4F- layer was as strong as it got in this location, N-face @ 8500'
Surface warming in full effect today: Roller-balls on shaded N-facing slopes to 8400', constant tree bombs, and 5th-class skin-glopping.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates