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Observation: Red Baldy

Observation Date
4/7/2019
Observer Name
Graves, Torrey, Wilson, Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine » Red Baldy
Location Name or Route
Red Baldy, West Pass
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cooler than expected due to cloud cover. When the sun would come out though, warming occurred quickly. Visibility improved throughout the day as the clouds broke up. We exited by 2:30PM
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
About 2-3" of graupel on Red Baldy on NW aspect between 10,400'-10,800', which warmed throughout the day and became damp enough to make into a snowball.
Wind crusts on N-NW aspects from 10,000'-11,000' ranging between 2"-4" supportable crusts as well as breakable crusts in some areas.
Graupel and supportable wind crusts made for fun, fast skiing.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Recent wet snow avalanches on S-E facing slopes between 8,400'-10,600'. Although we did not experience a rapid warm-up affecting snow significantly today when the sun came out it made the surface snow wet, but not damp enough to slide. We exited by 2:30PM.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Recent wet loose avalanches were observed in S-E-facing slopes in mid and upper White Pine Canyon between 8,000'-10,600'.
With no re-freezing expected to occur tonight and a high of 50˚F in the mountains tomorrow, I expect the snow to become wet, sloppy, and much more prone to wet snow avalanches.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
We saw one avalanche in upper White Pine that appeared to be caused by wind drifted snow, however, we only looked at it from across the drainage. The crown looked to be about 40' wide and about 6-8" deep.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates