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Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
2/6/2020
Observer Name
Bo Torrey
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Dutch Draw Ridge
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Strong to Moderate W-NW winds throughout the day. 3"-7" of new snow. Wind drifts easily 1'-2' deep.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Upside down snow. Wind affected and punchy.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Easy to initiate shooting cracks on wind drifted slopes.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Found 3"-6" of dense snow failing on a 2" layer of low-density snow that fell earlier this week. 2 pockets triggered were isolated and less than 50' wide.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,400'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments
Rising avalanche hazard was in your face today, Heavy snow & strong winds created sensitive surface snow conditions. Our group triggered 2 isolated wind drifted pockets. One remotely triggered from roughly 50' away. 12"-16" deep and 15'-50' wide. One ran a reported 300'
Dug a quick test pit on an E aspect at 9450' and found 2 crust's buried 20 cm and 40 cm below the surface. The crust buried 40 cm below the surface has small grain NSF (.5-1) below it. We did not get propagation on this layer in our Extended Column Tests (ECTN 16 @ 38 cm) but something I will continue to look for.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None