Observation: Coalpit

Observation Date
1/26/2022
Observer Name
Zack Little
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Coalpit
Location Name or Route
North Thunder Mountain
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Above 9800' we observed moderate winds and snow transport with a prevailing wind direction of W-SW. We found small pockets of wind drifted snow up to 15cm deep in isolated locations atop ridgelines.
Comments
For our tour we traveled up the Y couloir and followed the ridgeline from the top of the Y to the top of North Thunder Mountain, descended Coalpit headwall and traversed back to the top of the Y descending from there to the road. Heavy skier traffic and any subsequent loose dry avalanches from the previous day made for pleasant uphill travel in the Y, and marginal skiing conditions. Any remaining undistrubed surface snow in this terrain feature was rapidly faceting. On the North thunder Mountain ridgeline we found mostly wind stripped snow surfaces with pronounced sastrugi and prevailing winds from the W-SW. There were a few pockets of soft wind drifted snow that released under foot, no larger than 5-10 feet and 15 cm deep. Snow on the north facing headwall was predominatly undisturbed by wind, and we obsereved dozens of small loose dry avalanches from the previous day. With settlement there was almost no loose dry movement in the new snow which made for good, safe skiing.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates