Observation: Greens Basin

Observation Date
1/30/2021
Observer Name
BEN MAROLF
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Greens Basin
Location Name or Route
Greens Basin
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
While lower angle protected areas aren't seeing as much wind-slabbing, a persistent layer of about 6-10" of sugary facets remain all the way at the ground.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Significant new snowfall sluffing on the top of last weekends storm. Breaking 8-10" at 7-8 wrist-strength taps.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,200'
Comments
We skied wind-protected low-angle trees up Green Basin, dug a pit halfway down the run - 4 distinct snow layers existed. The 8-10" of snow that just fell sluffed off the 15-20" of snow from the last round of storms in mid-January. Beneath the snowpack from January is a soft, but increasingly faceted 10-12" trending towards a completely sugary base of 8-10" of faceted snow that continues to the ground.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates