Observation Date
11/22/2019
Observer Name
evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area » Upper Collins area
Location Name or Route
Collins Gulch
Comments
Below is a composite of the simple snowpack on shady slopes - new snow from Nov 20-21 above a crust that formed during the warm spell, with facets below.
Crusts themselves are always a red flag to me - they can form a slick bed surface when slides run above them; later when slides break below into the facets, crusts often allow slides to connect wider distances and across terrain features. Crusts also bring the possibility of step downs.
With snow on the way next week, one scenario is that the first avalanches will run above/on the crust, then when a bigger load of snow arrives, avalanches will fail below the crusts on the persistent weak layer of facets.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low