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Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date
12/22/2020
Observer Name
Joey Camps
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Calm and warm pre-frontal. At about 11am, winds picked up from the west, gusty, and some flurries
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Its ugly. Crunchy barely breakable melt-freeze crust on S-SW-W, probably jump started by rain/rime event yesterdy 12/21 (yeah Winter solstice)
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Cracking and collapsing still being found on the shady slopes. An avalanche that was probably a day or two old noticed on a steep roll (ole faithful 9300' N-NW) 40 degree start zone on convexity rolling into the gulch. Probably triggered remotely from ridge or it was natural.
Avalanche Problem #1
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
PWL on NW-N-NE- E
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem #2 Comments
MF crust S-SW-W. Might be a nice bed surface for new snow to run on; However, warm most snow fell first and one might guess that it bonds well to crust. Need to get and afternoon obs for confirmation.
This crust might become burried in shallow new snow. This will have potential to facet above or below the crust based on conditions. We will have to watch and see if this become a PWL on S-SW-W in a week or so's time.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates