Observation: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
3/17/2019
Observer Name
Greg Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper LCC Perimeter
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Dense, dry snow remains on shady aspects above 9000'. Damp surfaces were beginning to crust as soon as they became shaded from the sun.
Comments
Overall Low hazard from what I observed, with only some minor roller-balls and wet loose activity. It seems the gradual warm-up has really helped the transition on the solar aspects from a cold, somewhat dry snowpack to one that has taken on some warmth. Am thinking we've gone through our natural cycle of wet activity, and unless things get much warmer or we get greenhousing with cloud cover, we'll only have to deal with minor wet loose natural activity. Human-triggered wet slides remain a concern, especially in steeper terrain on all aspects.
Photos below showing pit on SW aspect with various melt/freeze (i.e. sun and temperature) crusts in the top 1 meter of snow. Between each crust the grains are damp, an indication liquid water is able to percolate and not pool on weaker grains above a crust (which could create larger wet slab avalanches). Also noticing evidence of drainage channels in the surface of the snow, a further indication liquid water is moving through the snowpack. This collaborates with recent wet avalanche activity which has mostly been confined to wet loose avalanches.
Hazard on Monday will start out Low, transitioning to Moderate as the snowpack warms.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate