Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
1/7/2019
Observer Name
white, gustafson
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
PC Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Mostly obscured skies, with a few breaks of sun, moderate snowfall, a combination of graupel and stelars. High winds transporting snow on the high ridge line.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Seemed like there was 18 to 20 inches of new snow, mainly light density in protected terrain with a coating of graupel on top which made it inverted, wind slab and wind blasted snow in more exposed terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of red flags but the wind loading was the most impressive.
Comments
Travel was up USA Bowl, Scott’s Bluff, No Name, with a sum what diminished view of the Monitors. Was thinking that everything had to have avalanched but was surprised when we got to No Name and saw no activity, and could not provoke any, but the wind was not getting to it’s protected slopes. We did trigger two avalanches on Scott’s which was much more wind affected and loaded, which I put on the avalanche page. The snow was inverted in all the terrain covered but almost more so in wind sheltered terrain. I’m not gonna trust any steep slopes for a bit, too much wind, too much snow, and suspect structure in most areas.
Photos wind loading and avalanches and trench warfare
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable