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Observation: Maybird Gulch

Observation Date
12/20/2019
Observer Name
Hardesty and Rich
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Maybird Gulch
Location Name or Route
Maybird
Weather
Sky
Few
Weather Comments
High thin clouds and generally light winds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Wind jacked up high, soft settled powder where protected. Surface hoar and slowly deteriorating snow surfaces. RR Facets above mf crust noted in Provo Wednesday.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Hard wind drifts scattered across the moonscape. 2-4mm surface hoar common even up high and capping the hard slabs.
Expecting soft and hard drifts from weekend's winds, though patchy and checkerboard. Imagine that much of the SH will be destroyed, but some protected areas will likely still hold SH and surface facets. Fresh pockety drifts will be sensitive in these areas.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Did not dig down into the old snow. "increasing danger" is selected below as additional wind loading, natural cornice failure, step downs, and stress from skiers/riders possible.
Comments
Photos
  1. Alternating erosion and hard wind drifts in crossloaded terrain - east facing Hogum/Maybird ridge
  2. Hard drifts you're "on" rather than "in"
  3. widespread surface hoar
  4. surface hoar on hard wind slabs
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None