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Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
12/30/2021
Observer Name
Hardesty and Keeling
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Park City Ridge Line
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Route was up USA Bowl to the radio towers and over to No Name.   Unceasing powerful southwesterly winds. The southern end of the PC ridge suffers from this flow. Significant scouring of windward areas and loading onto the lee. Mid/low elevations seeing wind transport.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Profile at 9150' on a ENE slope down the ridge from No Name bowl found a meter of consolidating slab over 30cm basal crusts and facets. ECTX. Slab is now pencil hard just above the October drought PWL..
No collapsing or cracking noted. Would imagine more than a couple natural avalanches down to this layering due to the intense wind transport.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Significant wind transport of snow along the south end of the PC ridgeline. Cornices are building...and becoming "hard slab" cornices and unmanageable in their own right. Surprised to not see any natural activity off Scott Hill or No Name. Poor vis precluded observation of South Monitor. Photo of scouring on southerly aspects...and the wind transported snow onto the lee....
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None