Observation: Scotts Peak

Observation Date
12/29/2020
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Scotts Peak
Location Name or Route
Scotts Pass/Jupiter area
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Two for one observations. Monday: S1, OVC, Cold Temps and Moderate to Strong S Winds with Strong Wind Blown. Tuesday: Clr skies, bit warmer but cold temps, Light E Winds and Light Wind Blown.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Good low to moderate angle riding in soft settled powder. Crust on Southerlies a bit grabby. Wind damage and sastrugi up near ridgelines.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Widespread cracking and collapsing being experienced from 8500 to 9800. Avalanches observed Scotts Bowl. Wind Loading creating soft and hard slabs up to at least 50 cm deep.Poor Snowpack Structure is obviously an issue with Snow Pit Tests today yielding Propensity for Propagation on W, N, E and SE aspects. Rime Crust layer still yielding CTM SC's in facets below this Crust.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
See above. Increasing during the day on Monday and static on Tuesday as the Winds and Precip died down.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
See above as Wind Slabs were growing and creating hard and soft slabs throughout the day on Monday.
Of Concern: With Hard Slabs being laid down on a Snow Pack with Widespread Poor Snowpack Structue, the potential for riders to get out further on Hard Slabs before they actually break will be a critical issue over the next few days and weeks. Also of concern, as stated yesterday, was the fact that the Winds on Sunday night and through Monday were out of the E and SE. These unusal Winds load slopes that we don't generaly see getting loaded. Slopes like rider's left on a supposedly safe area like the USA Bowl are a classic example. This slope doesn't have a big snowpack now, but there is enough of a slab up there to break and send you into thick quakies. While large and dangerous slopes like Gobblers present a huge threat and are totally suspect.
No Naturals observed today or yesterday in areas traveled; and with this in mind, the Danger Rating may be considered "High Consequence Moderate".
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate