Observation Date
2/14/2022
Observer Name
Grainger, E. Hanson
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Comments
Weeks of high pressure and wind have created a spectrum of surface snow conditions. Generally on non-solar aspects above 8500' the top 10-25 cm of snow is a mix of weak facets and wind crusts of varying thickness. Future issues will center around these facets' weak interface with both storm slabs and wind slabs (weighted by storm snow) overlying them.
3 main surfaces in the alpine of White Pine:
1- Weak, loose faceted surfaces in areas protected from wind and sun. Near-surface faceting (NSF) over the last weeks has left these areas with a problematic layer when storm snow tops it.
2- Varying thicknesses of breakable wind crust overlying NSF in many start zones. These areas may be able to hold more new SWE before failing with much wider propagation. (Pic 1): 3 cm 1F+ wind crust overlying ~12 cm of F- facets.
3- Heavily-textured, supportable wind-affected snow (Pic 2). Many open alpine basins and exposed NW-E faces have this. Potentially helpful surface for new snow to stick to...
Solar aspects a mix of smooth and textured hard M/F crusts.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates