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Observation: Alta Periphery

Observation Date
1/11/2021
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery
Location Name or Route
Alta Periphery
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface is - again - weakening - due to the cold and clear skies. 2mm SH feathers cap the surface facets. Solar aspects crusted in the morning, damp by afternoon.
Mark Saurer "swarms of rollerballs" noted in some steep sunny terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I did not experience cracking or collapsing or see a new avalanche today so they remain unchecked. As a note to readers, IF you check cracking and collapsing, please note aspect/elevation and possible failure plane.
Comments
Went to look at some east and off aspects today. The structure and results on the solar aspects did not seem suspect. East facing aspect had poor structure and also had no results.
With such a dry season, I want us to continually keep an eye on how the off (SE-S-SW) aspects are playing out to continue to (hopefully) rule them out as a player in the future. More data needed. They are rarely players except under unusual circumstances.
No results with east facing was not surprising. While the facets are not healing, per se, stability is slowly improving. I expect we'll see variable results with tests moving forward...I also expect to see human triggered avalanches here and there every other day or so.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None