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Observation: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
12/5/2019
Observer Name
Gagne/Pease/Frey
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Littlecottonwood Perimeter
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Very dense new snow. Well-bonded to old snow surface. New snow unreactive to stability tests.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Dug one pit on NE aspect at 10,000'. Got all the information we needed: CT12/Q1 ECTP15. Failing down 85 cms in weak faceted snow down at the ground. We also got a large collapse on the same slope.
Photo and video of poor snowpack structure showing strong snow over weak snow.
Video
Weak, faceted snow down at the ground will continue to be an issue for some time. For now, I am avoiding avalanche terrain on mid and upper elevation aspects facing northwest, through north, and east. Pretty simple. Fortunately, the decent early-December coverage is providing riding options on other aspects that do not have this poor structure.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable