Observation: Soldier Peak

Observation Date
1/16/2020
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Soldier Peak
Location Name or Route
Soldier Pk
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Warm with high clouds and strong S-SW winds on the ridge line and also down in the drainages.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Settled medium density powder in wind protected terrain, damp on the S end of the compass and all aspects at lower elevations, wind crust and wind slabs in exposed terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Comments
Went to Soldier Pk with the thoughts that one side of the peak would be scoured and the other side would be blow in and wind buff with the strong SW winds blowing across the face, I was kinda right. The winds created a somewhat rare large cornice on the N side of the peak that released easily on approach and a bit further back than expected. The protected N facing snow around 8700ft was dense and easily packed into a snowball. I would expect the new snow to bond well on all but S facing which might have a slick melt freeze crust before it starts snowing, the surface snow on the other aspects doesn't seem weak do to wind compaction and warm temperatures.
photos: cornice fall, dense compactable snow, in protected terrain, wind on the ridge and a video of wind transport that kept up most of the day.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable