Observation: Lookout Peak

Observation Date
1/11/2020
Observer Name
Wilson, Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Emigration Canyon » Lookout Peak
Location Name or Route
Lookout Peak
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Snowed on and off throughout the afternoon, with flakes ranging from large and connected to tiny rimed particles. Wind mainly blowing from the west, but at times it crossed the same Lookout Peak ridgline from opposite directions.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Two more inches over the course of the tour, roughly 13" of soft snow above the New Year's crust.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Snowfall less heavy than in the Cottonwoods. None-the-less, periods of high PI and moderate winds led to cornice fall and small natural soft slabs in a couple locations.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,000'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments
Right-side-up snowpack on a northeast slope at 8,000 feet. We wondered if we'd see propagation as Mark had in Bountiful, as we had in Meadows, or as Trent had in Mineral. We did not. Compression test got a resistant planar failure down 45cm on near surface facets with a hard tap from the shoulder (CT30 RP), but no propagation. In shovel shear tests, the graupel layer down 37cm sheared with moderate force, but didn't show up in the CT. Height of snow was 115cm, and there were no basal facets.
A quick pit on southeast facing 8,800 feet had various crusts with facets, but no propagation.
Hazard seemed basically low except where wind loading allowed for localized cracking and small soft-slab avalanches. Hard to get good photos in the white-out. If you squint you can see not only the cracks but a 12" SS-NC-D1-R1-I
The ridgeline varied from sharp to rounded, resulting in cornices and broad wind-affected stretches, respectively. Below is a photo of the latter.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates