Observation: Thunder Ridge

Observation Date
1/30/2022
Observer Name
Zack Little
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Hogum » Thunder Ridge
Location Name or Route
North Thunder Mountain
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Crust on S,E,W aspects below 10k, crust on S,SE above 10k. widespread near surface faceting anywhere the sun or wind didn't affect the snow surface. variable wind crusts above 10k.
Comments
We traveled on a variety of aspects at all elevations from 6400 feet to 11000 feet. Our day began on steep north facing terrain where we observed widespread near surface faceting. We then traveled along a west facing slope adjacent to the coalpit drainage at 10,000 ft, where we found a heat crust of varying thickness and integrity with up to 10cm of unconsolidated near surface facets resting on top. Above this we traveled on a NE facing ridge that was largely wind stripped with the solar side of the ridge holding a stout sun crust. We found good quality snow in the form of near surface facets on an east facing slope from 11000 to 9800 feet. Here we observed our only avalanche problem of the day, significant loose dry sluffing, manageable with careful skiing/riding. we spent the remainder of the day on a similar aspect and elevation with similar snow quality anywhere that hadn't been disturbed by other skiers. On a Northeast facing aspect at around 10,000 feet we found a 10cm thick pencil hard windboard resting above small grain near surface facets, although this was an isolated finding.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates