Observation: Powder Park

Observation Date
4/14/2021
Observer Name
Nate Lanza
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Powder Park
Location Name or Route
Powder Park 3
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
New snow fell upside-down today, and bonded to itself well enough to create a decent soft slab. I observed a Q1 shear on the new snow/old snow boundary on multiple shovel tilt tests; tapping was not required to cause the snow to break apart into two slabs. Very poor bonding of the new snow observed. An ECT was inconclusive, some propagation occurred but the slab was compressed too easily by the shovel to get reliable results. Overall, I would say the snowpack has the strength (very weak interface) and structure (new snow forming a slab) for soft slab avalanches, but I'm not sure whether it has the requisite propagation energy.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Moderate winds observed, even in the valley below PP3 where it's fairly well-treed, and definitely on the ridgelines. Est 10-20 mph. Plenty of snow available for transport.
Comments
Snow density was very elevation-dependent. It was very wet and soupy around 8000', steadily increasing in quality to blower powder at 9000' and above. Even relatively small elevation differences of a few hundred feet seemed to make a difference. Snowfall was a steady 1-2 inches per hour when I left at 6:30pm. About a foot of new snow had already accumulated at high elevations where it wasn't slushy.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates