Observation Date
1/6/2019
Observer Name
Joey Camps
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Emma Ridges
Location Name or Route
Emmas
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Snowed all day, really hard from 10am to 2pm. Wind out of the southwest was fairly steady, not overly strong, but perfect for transporting the new low density snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Started out with a few inches on wind buffed/scoured icy crust. Then became knee deep low density snow. Sluffing on all slopes steep enough(about 35 degrees). Some were long running on the ice crust, when the slope angle continued. Skied very well and very fast!
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Only skied South today, but there was sluffing, heavy snowfall, wind, and cracking. We know the North's snowpack structure is less than ideal. I did not notice any major avalanches when the skies cleared, but they could have easily been covered back up and my eyes are not that good.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Sluffing in the new snow was starting to settle out a bit. But here we go round two; another 8-16" with maybe a touch higher density and more wind. Could be very sensitive tomorrow and with a lot of new snow.
Video
I was trying to show what I am looking for and how I act with High PI cracking and sluffing. Of course the cracking/sluffing was lackluster when I recorded, but hopefully it can help some people.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
