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Observation: Alta Periphery

Observation Date
12/28/2020
Observer Name
Eric G Shmookler
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery
Location Name or Route
Alta Periphery
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Went on a windy Alta periphery walk today.
Route was Grizzly Gulch > Patsy Marley > Wolverine Bowl > Lake Martha > Lake Catherine > Catherine's Pass.
Light snow and moderate to strong easterly winds throughout the day.
Travel from the microwave (drive-in movie) sign to summit of Mt. Wolverine was tricky due to low coverage and poor snowpack structure on this steeper, west-facing terrain. About 10cm of large grain facets noted near the ground in this location required restricting travel to low angle avenues.
We also experienced a large collapse on an east facing slope at 9900 ft above Lake Martha.
Hazard was managed in this complex terrain by connecting low angle paths (challenging).
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates