UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
2/18/2019
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Big Cottonwood mid Canyon
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Traveled from 7000 to 9300. Skies vacillated from few to broken in the am through early afternoon. S-1 snowfall periodically today with no significant accumulations. Temperatures remained unseasonably cold.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Despite the cold temperatures the mid February sun has enough punch to adversely effect the southerlies when they have a slope angle of 20 degrees and greater. Sustained cold weather has allowed for a combination of early SH growth as well as NSF-ing. New snow from this latest event has settlement rates of at least 30%. Fortuneately the facet crust sandwich that was observed up to 8000 feet is actually easy to ride, and it sounds like zipper releasing as you ride through it and into buried softer snow layers.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Widespread Loose Dry avalanches on slopes 35 degrees and greater with upper 10 cm moving easily. Poor Snowpack structure evident from 7000 up to at least 8000. There is now a crust/facet/crust sandwich as a result of the rain and warm weather this past week. See picture that illustrate a pair of 3 mm to 4 mm crusts sandwiching 8 cm of developing facets. This recipe will have to be monitored once we receive any new loading, and the potential for collapse failure and a propensity for propagation may come into play. Of note, challenging riding conditions exist from 8000 feet down in many locations where rock hard "clinkers" are strewn across many slopes.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Large and dangerous cornices continue to be something to respect and allow for wide margins for safe travel.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Loose Dry as described above were the only other avalanche problems encountered today. As we receive light amounts very light density snow for the next few forecast segments this issue will remain something to manage carefully. In any terrain features where any moving debris can accumulate, caution may be prudent.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate