Observation: Montreal Hill

Observation Date
3/26/2020
Observer Name
Lozier/Brickman
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork » Montreal Hill
Location Name or Route
Mid Ivory & Montreal Hill
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wind slab was my primary concern going out this morning, but it proved to be a very specific problem. We did not observe any slab formation in the areas we skied, and winds were surprisingly calm most of the day, even at ridgetop, shifting from N/NW to S in the Lt category at times. As the wind continues to blow, I suspect this will become more of a problem with low-density new snow available for transport.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
LD sloughing was expected in steep terrain, although we did not observe anything of note
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,800'
Comments
We skied the Mid Ivory gully line then skinned back up to ski Montreal Hill down to the Cardiff mine: 40-50 cm low-density HST over MFCr, no slab formation in areas skied, observed one Sr SSL size 1.5 on cross-loaded/wind-pressed convex terrain feature on High Ivory (probably occurred around 10:00 am) - photo attached, see avalanche obs. We dug a snow profile adjacent to the avalanche but found no slab in the profile location. Few small (size 0.5) LD observed in the trees at BTL elevation above the road on the way up. Greenhousing began to affect the top 20 cm at TL elevation around 1:30 pm. No Na observed, no Sc, no cracking, no whumpfs.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates