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Observation Date
2/21/2021
Observer Name
Greg Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Maybird Gulch
Location Name or Route
Maybird
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Periods of S-1 snowfall early morning, with some mid-level clouds moving in and out. Winds were calm where we were (as high as 9,600') but plumes off of 11k peaks early this morning.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Recent storm snow has really settled out, with 10-15 cms ski penetration, making for fast and easy travel on the snow surface. Some solars took on warming today, with thin crusts possible on some solar aspects on Monday.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The snowpack structure is really the only concern right now. On Saturday I was finding a thinner snowpack in Mineral Fork in Big Cottonwood (an "outlying area" outside of core Cottonwoods) with a ~1m slab on top of the facets. Much more snow with a stronger slab in Maybird (core Cottonwoods) - generally 1.8 - 2.2 meters HS, with the bottom 30-45 cms faceted. Natural avalanches seem unlikely (which fits the definition of Moderate) but the size of avalanches (large or very large) fits Considerable.
Increasing stability in core Cottonwoods where there is deeper snowpack, with nearly 2m on top of the facets. Am more concerned of outlying areas (such as what I saw in Mineral on Saturday) and in Millcreek this past week where the snowpack is thinner with very weak facets underneath.
Comments
We noticed several crowns today from natural activity this past week, with the bed surface filled in with additional storm and wind-blown snow. All avalanche activity I have seen this season involving slides breaking down into old snow have left at least 30 cms of facets and depth hoar in place, and one thing I'm keeping aware of is the possibility of repeater slides as these slopes have a thinner slab on top of the facets.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates