Observation Date
12/21/2020
Observer Name
Fink, Asay
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine
Location Name or Route
Red Pine
Comments
Toured from white pine lot into mid-Red Pine. Reports of misting from yesterday were confirmed, with wet snow surface to 8900'. Rollerballs on roadcuts also. Overnight temperatures weren't adequate to freeze the surface into a crust, with temperatures at the trailhead of 38F at 8 am. Above 9000' the riding conditions improved significantly. We used an existing track up an East facing slope and observed no evidence of instability, but once on untrammeled terrain N/NW around 9300' we experienced multiple isolated collapses, particularly on slightly steeper rolls with a northwesterly aspect. Solar looked to be at play for the day with skies clearing and strong sun on southerly slopes with warm air temps. It remains possible to find sheltered snow and good skiing that is not in avalanche terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable