Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
1/31/2021
Observer Name
Collett, Wessler
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Little Water Peak
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Dug a test pit at 8800 N facing and found (suprise!) fist hard facets in the bottom 40cm of the snowpack, with a 1F to 4F hard slab on top. We didn't get propagation in ECTs, in this location but I'd chalk that up to spatial variability. Overall poor structure is keeping me off anything steep for quite a while.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,800'
Comments
Just a quick ob from a low angle tour up to Little Water Peak today. Temps at Spruces were a brisk 9 degrees at 0800 when got on the skin track, and warmed up quite a bit throughout the day to the point that snow on solar aspects was becoming damp on our exit at 1500. Skies were clear in the morning becoming overcast throughout the day. Wind was calm. We noticed surface hoar in sheltered areas in the mid elevations (see pic below). Riding conditions have drastically improved from the recent snow, and we found great turns in low angle terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None