Observation: Provo

Observation Date
3/14/2021
Observer Name
T Diegel
Region
Provo
Location Name or Route
Santaquin Peak
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Weather Comments
not nearly as much wind as it sounds like the Cottonwoods had
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
down low it was lightish snow on top of a heat crust, that made for challenging skinning, up high the crust wasn't as prevalent, not surprisingly. At the end of the day the new snow had turned damp on all aspects below 7k, again not surprisingly.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We skinned/skied through a lower-angle burn area that was adjacent to a major slide path with a steep start zone that ran during the February cycle, and got a couple of whoomphs and cracks on the ridge, which we stuck to before dropping down lower-angle shots. We did a couple of hand pits and saw that the new snow didn't bond very well to the old. But due to a lack of wind at that elevation/in that kind of shelter there wasn't much of a slab. All of this was around the 8-9k range, well below the summit that undoubtedly had more wind. Below 8k there was better bonding, and we didn't go much above 9k due to poor viz. With my probe I was only able to go down 4 feet to the ground at around 9k, with the assumed PWL near the base, which indicated to me that since the snowpack wasn't as fat there as in the Central Wasatch - where we've mostly been playing lately - the PWL may still be in play? At the end of the day as we dropped into the low elevation exit gully we had to be conscientious about very small wet slides even north facing due to heating.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate