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Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
2/20/2021
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
BCC
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Westerly winds were blowing from the east in lower Days fork due to terrain funneling. Obscured to broken skies with periods of S2+ in the morning. Very short sun breaks.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
A few inches of fresh between yesterday and today. Found the rime crust, but in the lower & mid elevation band it is almost imperceptible, 1mm thick, not affecting the skiing and should decompose quickly. Dense powder skiing conditions exist.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Investigated the shallow low elevation snowpack in BCC today. Between 7,500-8,00' about 1m exists on cold aspects. Dug at 7,900' NE, HS 115-120cm, CTM SC/ECTX down 95cm on moist 2-3mm FC (dec snow buried on 1/22?), CTH SP/ECTN 23 down 45cm on what I assumed was the slight break in the storm last Sunday 2/14. Profile showed 2 MF between the storm slab and the FC on the ground.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Second ECTX on basal FC in low/lower mid elev FC. I will continue investigating this on low and lower mid elev areas to possibly clear P. Slab at low elevation northerlies, in the meantime poor/fair structure exists in these areas from what I have seen.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Did not get into the wind zone today but observed sensitive wind slab yesterday. Baldy data appeared down this morning for past 24 hrs (riming?), Hidden peak showed more sensible wind speeds.
Hazard feels moderate in mid elevation areas out of the wind zone in BCC, and closer to low in low elevations.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates