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Observation: Mineral Basin

Observation Date
4/22/2019
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird Ski Resort » Mineral Basin
Location Name or Route
Mineral Basin/Mary Ellen Gulch
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Few skies to start the day with increasing cloud cover (Ovc) and light snowfall (S-1} by 1430. Calm to light NE winds. Temperatures in the morning were at least 6 degrees cooler than on Sunday morning, yet with the cloud cover in the late morning and early afternoon, greenhousing was observed.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Damp would be an understatement with wet and saturated conditions being much stickier than on Sunday. Riding conditions deteriorated significantly today. Barely supportable conditions were observed on SE and SW aspects at the 9500 foot level. The northerly facing terrain was knee deep thick goo/slush/mank.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor snowpack structure still observed at the interface of the early April rain crust, and this stout impenatrable barrier was 30 cm down on a SW aspect at 9800. Widespread wet loose activity (on a variety of aspects) once again observed today with the new snow from Sunday appearing to be reactive with rapidly warming temperatures, April solar radiation, and intense greenhousing.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
See above for wet loose issues, and at 1445 a 1.5 size avalanche was observed on south facing Sugarloaf. With the forecast for clearing skies overnight and below freezing temps above 9000 feet there most likely will be a slight refreeze. Full sunshine and 50 degree temperatures slated for Monday may help initiate additional wet loose activity by late morning and into the afternoon hours on Monday. Slope cuts and pushalanches on steep slopes and test slopes continues to be able to easily initiate wet loose activity. See photo below.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Problem #2 Comments
Continued concern for any large overhanging cornices still appears valid.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate