Observation Date
1/28/2019
Observer Name
Paradis
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
A few clouds in the AM but alpine was largely clear by about noon. Not too much heating. South and west aspects appeared to have warmed previously.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow was somewhat wind affected and dense but still soft and skied well, despite strong winds from prior days. Did not observe hard wind slabs of extensive scalloping of the snow surface. Better than expected. The wind helped cover old tracks and maybe recycle snow from the prior storm. There was also a little grauple on on the snow surface.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Today I was most concerned about wind loading but in areas we traveled - which were not along the highest ridges, I didn't notice anything particularly concerning like hard, cohesive wind slabs. I'd guess you probably find this in very exposed terrain. We had no cracking or other indicators of instability from a couple of test slopes.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
This was less obvious that I would have expected. In some cases, skin tracks were almost filled in due to the wind.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,600'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments
Good profile of increasing density. Huge difference between this location and along the PC ridgeline. No results from an ECT. Interfaces between storms from this last week had sort of a weak density change between them. Basal facets were still present at the bottom of the snowpack but didn't dig to bottom to test them..
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
