Observation: Emma Ridges

Observation Date
1/5/2021
Observer Name
Menk
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Emma Ridges
Location Name or Route
Emmas
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Didn’t dig a full pit today but PWL is sure to be present down low.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Slopes looked wind loaded and round today. Evidence of cross-loading into the gullies on Emma’s and on upper elevation east facing terrain.
Comments
Travel this afternoon was up Emma’s to West Bowl for a lap then back up and out. Lots of evidence of wind loading from the West, I made sure to keep slope angle in check and rode skiers left in the bowl avoiding any terrain traps or gullies that had steeper convexities.
Weather was pretty calm, no active precip, and winds were light. New snow was approx. 10”.
Dug several hand pits to check out the new snow which seemed bonded better than I expected. I felt a few small collapses coming up Emma’s but no cracking or recent slides were observed even in the upper head wall of Silver Fork. Things looked very round and touchy on steeper slopes, especially upper Days Fork. Coming back down Emma’s was thin but decent coverage, I stayed near the skin track and avoided the gullies which looked cross loaded.
Photos of the Silver Fork headwall and Days Fork from the ridge.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable