Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
1/15/2020
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Maybird
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Bluebird day between storms, cold, lower teens, moderate wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
We skied into the upper cirque of Maybird just to take a look at it. About 3 previous people skied the north-facing Maybird trees below 10,000' but no one went into the upper cirque, for good reason. Snow was dense, rimed snow and wind affected. It was slabby, upside down, trap door, keep-the-weight-in-the-back-seat kind of turning and even going downhill we had to break trail on the gentler terrain. At treeline and above, it was quite drifted, lurch-and-jerk snow. Trail breaking was hard in the slabby, deep snow. Mid elevation, wind sheltered terrain was better than treeline or above on all aspects. Not many people in the White Pine parking lot, considering it was a day after a snowstorm, but the snow conditions probably explain it. Compared to the fabulous snow this past week, it was disappointing, but at least it was arduous.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Despite the slabby feel of the snow, rimed snow heals quickly and I could not find any slabs that were cracking or sensitive. I did not see any avalanche activity anywhere. It seems like the dense, rimed snow was welded in place fairly well, especially a day after the storm. I did not dig any snow profiles. The strong wind forecast for tomorrow could be a problem but the existing snow is pretty dense and is already wind affected so it would take a quite strong wind to cause additional wind transport into new slabs.
Comments
Here's a few photos that show the coverage and wind damage around treeline (10,000) in upper Maybird cirque. Turning was not so good but the stunning, upper Maybird landscape on a sunny day is always a rare gift we regularly give ourselves.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None