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Observation: 10420

Observation Date
12/23/2018
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
10,420
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Calm with occasional Light winds from SW. Went from about 0C near TH at 8,800' at 13:00, -1.6C at 9,200 NE at 13:30, between -3.5 and -4.5C at 10,300 NE at 14:00.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Some wind affected snow near ridge lines and old stubborn non-reactive wind slabs, nice soft cold powder on shady's and low angle. The snow from Friday night has settled ~1-3".
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Did not get propagation in tests or Q1 shears but there is still structure remaining. Basal facets were moist and rounding, 1-2mm.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Structure remains
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Not an issue where I was today. The wind slabs were pretty hard and not reactive.
Comments
Dug two pits on 10,420 this afternoon. 9,200' NNE in trees, HS 65cm (surprisingly low snow), CTM16 RP down 60 cm 1-2mm FCxr, then two CTN. 10,300 70*E, NE Bowl 10,420, HS 105cm,CTM 18 BRK down 30cm on FCsf (buried on 12/12?), Two CTH22 Brk up 10cm from ground on basal FC (what used to be the crust, CTM17 BRK down 30cm on same FCsf and ECTX. Basal FC are moist, form into a snowball, and rounding gaining strength, 4F+. Both locations I saw DFbc and DFbk as the surface form.
The picture above of the first pit at 9,200' and rounding basal facets. Pictures below are from the second pit at 10,300'.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates