UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Coalpit

Observation Date
4/1/2019
Observer Name
Meisenheimer / Staples
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Coalpit
Location Name or Route
Pfeifferhorn to Coalpit Headwall
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
The day started perfect with cool temps and clear skies. Heating was not an issue where we traveled today. By 3:30 pm the high clouds came in and the light was flat (bummer). At the summit of Coalpit around 5:45 pm the westerly wind was blowing (not drifting snow) but the air temp was cool with the wind chill.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
You can find about every type of snow surface in the mountains right now. However, the high elevation due north facing slopes continue to hold excellent powder snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
The one troubling thing we found today was loose surface snow in the high elevation north facing slopes. We were able to find very small surface hoar grains on the surface of the snow while ascending the north face of the Pheifferhorn (pic below). When riding on the Coalpit headwall we also took not of the very loose (faceted) snow surface as the powder snow was very dry and sluffing.
Right now this isn't a problem as there is not slab on top of the weak layer. However, with 10-15" of new snow coming in this week, we will need to keep an eye out for weak snow on the northern half of the compass and see how it behaves. It could become an issue if it's buried and preserved. If you're getting out this week in the storm snow be sure to use small test slopes and ECT to determine if this is widespread or very localized or not an issue at all.
My guess is this weak snow only exists on slopes above about 9,000' in elevation on the NW, N and NE facing aspects that have not seen any sun or wind damage.
Comments
Photo: Mark Staples holding up a very small wind skin with surface hoar crystals on top.
Photo 1: Mark heading towards the Pfeifferhorn. What a glorious day to be in the alpine.
Photo 2: A look at the excellent snow quality that remains in the high alpine.
Photo 3: Mark heading up the north Pfeifferhorn.
Photo 4: What an amazing snowpack we have this year. Everything is so filled in. Fingers crossed for that average winter Drew was referring to in this mornings forecast.
Photo 5: Some small wet loose snow avalanche on the west aspect in upper Hogum.
Photo 6: Trent's skis overhanging the entrance to the Coalpit Headwall.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None