Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
1/13/2022
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Park City Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Sct skies in the morning and calm winds with light gusts, increasing clouds and winds through the day, OVC by 14:00.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Some softening on solars, slowed by light winds and increased cloud cover. Settled powder on the shady's.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Warm temps and deeper snowpack is moving us in the right direction.
Comments
Between 9,200'-9,800' N-NE-E HS varied between 90cm in trees to 130-180cm in open areas with 220-300+cm in wind loaded areas close to the ridgeline. Quick pit at 9,500' NW, HS 135cm, targeted PWL was down 110cm, 2-3mm dry facets. ECTX on the basal PWL (not surprising given the depth and substantial hard slab above), CTH26 SC down 110cm on the 2-3mm FCxr, ECTN16 down 35cm on ~1cm layer of small grain FCsf. Given the depth of the PWL and the HS protecting it a PST would've been a more appropriate test, time constraints prevented performing PST.
Snow surface conditions continue to weaken, observed a few cm of FCsf and some medium to large impressively large SH in expected areas.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates