Observation Date
2/4/2019
Observer Name
Hardesty, Staples
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Little Water
Location Name or Route
Little Water
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Medium density snow with small grained graupel. Fairly consistent southerly winds but only isolated wind effect noted.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Triggered the avalanche to the ground on Little Water (Firewater -see obs)
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Found Saturay night's buried Surface Hoar and near-surface facets in many locations from 8300' to 9400' in the Mill D North to Little Water periphery and found inconsistent test results. These weaknesses noted roughly 30cm down beneath dense storm and wind-affected snow. ECT results noted a couple ECTP3 and ECTP13 but otherwise ECTN. No cracking or collapsing noted; the question being if these weaknesses are weak enough....and/or is there really enough load on them. Surprised that this layering did not produce any avalanches much less a whimper where we traveled.
Went fishing for bluegill and hooked a sturgeon (see Firewater avalanche).
Comments
Photos: Surface hoar (most laying over), small grained chained facets, Mark (and Drew) scratching our heads as to why these notorious weak layers are not avalanching as we thought they might (in our travels).
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
