Observation Date
1/21/2022
Observer Name
Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Little Cottonwood Periphery
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Most of the morning involved poor visibility with sustained north/northeast winds along exposed ridgelines. But there was a brief period around 1100 where the sky cleared.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
A generous 5-10 cms from this storm, but it has made all the difference and travel and riding conditions are greatly improved. The north/northeast winds did create pockets of soft winddrifts along exposed ridgelines.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Cracking where there was wind-loading. I did get a few collapses where the wind-loaded slopes had weaker snow underneath.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
There are pockets of fresh wind drifts on all aspects at the upper elevations. With so little snow available for transport, these drifts are not widespread, but they are sensitive where they landed with weak snow underneath. Photo illustrates some cracking in pockets of fresh wind drifts.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The new snow would sluff easily on steeper slopes. In a brief moment of clearing, I noticed these long-running sluffs off of Wolverine, likely triggered from a couple of riders. Though the sluffs were shallow, they do indicate the consequences of being carried over rocks and cliff bands.
Comments
The 5-10 cms of new snow greatly improved riding conditions, but I was able to find the weak snow underneath the storm snow has now been preserved, and it will be a a potential weak layer going forward. Photo below shows the stripe of faceted snow underneath the new storm snow.
Avalanche danger remains Low with Moderate on upper elevation aspects where pockets of fresh wind drifts may be sensitive and long-running sluffs are possible. These two problems are mostly a concern in steep, consequential terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
