UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Pleasant Creek

Observation Date
4/17/2021
Observer Name
John Pikus
Region
Skyline » Pleasant Creek
Location Name or Route
Pleasant Creek
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Beautiful and cold morning to be in the mountains. Southeast winds were transporting snow throughout the tour and getting into unusual places like drainage bottoms. The sunshine seemed to be tempered by the cold temperatures and winds during the time I was out (8am to 11am.)
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
New snow from the last few days has settled to about 6 inches above 9,000 feet or so. Found quite a bit of wind effect both up high and in drainages. The east winds were really swirling around in the early morning hours.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Some wind drifts were surprisingly thick and sensitive. Probably not big enough to bury you but could definitely sweep you off your feet in more radical terrain.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
At the time of my exit the sun wasn't affecting the snow yet on north facing slopes (could have been more of an issue on east/south facing slopes.) With cold temperatures and winds I don't foresee this being a major problem this weekend but if winds die down I would expect to see minor wet loose activity in the afternoons.
Comments
Travel was in the Pleasant Creek Drainage at elevations ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 feet on primarily north facing slopes. Nice to have maybe one last little burst of winter. Not a huge amount of new snow but ski conditions were excellent and it was just enough to mostly keep one off the firm crust underlying all the new snow. Not much to add beyond what I covered above. Sluffing in the new snow on the crusts was a minor factor on Friday morning (not enough new snow to really be an issue other than making skinning challenging) but today the new snow seemed better bonded. I think the only potentially dangerous situation today would be to trigger a wind slab in radical terrain which did seem like a possibility.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates