Observation Date
2/2/2021
Observer Name
Claire B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
10420 to Promiseland
Comments
Initially a blustery cold day, but started warming up with blue skies around 10:30-11, even in the top of BCC cloud cover. Snow consistency changed in wind-protected areas to quite warm and wet. Objective was to summit 10420, ski the skinner back into Promiseland, avoiding open terrain and Lane's Leap. We dug a pit on the NNE aspect below Lane's Leap to take a look at the wind loading. 175cm deep to the ground, changes in density from soft wind slab at 150cm, and from consolidated slab to sugar at 75cm. We were just below the ridge for the pit to do some learning on wind-slab, so interpret accordingly, other areas on 10420 are clearly not so deep. On ECT, nothing budged and we even weight loaded the column. I still don't trust the PWL, so we avoided anything in the open and skiied in the trees to both skier's right on lap 1 and skier's left on lap 2. With the extra snow, Promiseland is starting to bury the logs but the deadfall is still obvious and a clear hazard. Picky lines and micro-terrain management from skinning to skiing remain top priority.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable