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Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date
4/15/2021
Observer Name
E
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter
Location Name or Route
Alta/Brighton Perimeter
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light snowfall throughout the day with minimal daytime accumulations. Overcast skies until 1400 and then Few. Enough solar observed at 8000 feet in BCC to damage southerly and westerly facing aspects in the mid to late afternoon hours. Temperatures remained below freezing above 9000 feet. No Wind Blown observed.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
HST as deep as 18 inches settled. Overall density Medium with a Light density capping. Snow remained cold and dry on all aspects up until exiting at 1330. Riding was extremely good with bottomless turning.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Red Flags Comments
Still getting easy hand shears above the old snow/new snow interface. The new snow bonded directly to the old crusty snow surface, but there appeared to be a 1 to 3 inch light density layer with mixed forms that was stubborn. The most consistent reactive layer observed was a density change 4 inches up from the old snow/new snow interface. Despite the ability to identify these new snow layers, the warm temperatures and settlement over the past 24 hours appeared to promote good stability with no issues observed besides minimal Loose Dry in the 2 to 3 inches of new overnight snow. There was definitely a widespread Natural Storm Slab Avalanche Cycle that occurred on 20210414, and Most Likely during the extremely high PI periods. See photo of Avalanches in Martha's Bowl (it went wall to wall); and on the west side of the north ridge of Pioneer. There were many other Natural Storm Slabs observed (pockets of steep terrain in the Sunset area) but poor visibility prohibited additional photos. Along with the numerous Natural Storm Slabs, there was a Widespread Loose Dry Cycle on almost all steep terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Despite not seeing any instabilities in the terrain traveled, there may have been some isolated areas of very steep terrain where yesterdays reactive layers were still an issue today. This problem may also have become a potentiality during the brief periods of solar and warming.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
As stated above, exit occurred before any potential intense solar. Yet, it was Likely that there were areas receiving significant solar and warming in the mid to late afternoon hours.
Friday's forecast appears to be calling for increasing clouds by noon, but any variation in this forecast with sustained periods of solar will increase the potential for Wet Loose.
Several steep slopes ridden today by many, and the lack of any activity observed appeared to indicate a mostly Low Danger. Once Wet activity becomes an issue the Danger will escalate to Moderate.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low