Observation Date
11/24/2019
Observer Name
Peter Donner
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Rocky Point
Location Name or Route
Rocky Point
Comments
Toured Point Supreme and Rocky Point Saturday and Sunday after many days in Collins Gulch. Thanks again to Alta for allowing uphill traffic.
Snow is 1 to 2 feet deep depending on location, occasionally a bit more or less. Got a bit of “loud powder” Sunday, noticeably different from the same run Saturday indicating surface faceting is progressing. Thickness of the melt/freeze crust varies but is generally present on the north half of the compass.
Danger was low Sunday though I’m expecting that will change Monday.
NWS forecast for upper Little Cottonwood is 5 to 9 inches during the day Monday with winds gusting over 20 mph. The U’s LCC guidance has winds on Baldy gusting to 40 mph overnight Sunday and during the day Monday.
If snow and winds are on the high side danger will be a solid considerable. While snow and wind on the low side might make the danger moderate, given how weak the underlying snow is I’d have a hard time getting on anything steep if there is any loading.
Photo is a path in Rocky Point I skied Saturday that I’m thinking will avalanche if provoked by a skier given the forecast load for Monday.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable