Observation Date
2/16/2022
Observer Name
Collett, Wessler, Antenucci
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Big Water
Location Name or Route
Walt's Trees
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
3-4" of new low density snow fell overnight. S-1 to S1 throughout the morning hours. Periods of graupel at lower elevations in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Winter returned with 3-4" of low density new snow that drastically improved riding conditions especially in areas where this new snow is sitting on top of loose near surface facets.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The new snow is sitting on a mix of surfaces from melt freeze crusts, to wind crust, surface hoar in isolated areas, and on the polar aspects very weak near surface facets. The new snow was easily sluffing within itself and bonding poorly with the varied underlying snow surfaces.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
New snow was easily sluffing within itself and bonding poorly with underlying snow surfaces. I'd expect any avalanches today to be small dry loose. We didn't get out of wind sheltered terrain today to see if there was any wind transport/developing wind slabs.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
23°
Comments
Quick pit at on a NNW slope at 9070' with a relatively shallow HS of 114cm not surprisingly showing weak layers in the upper pack. Of note was that the basal facets are still quite angular and had a 4F hardness, while in areas with a deeper snowpack I've found this layer to be much stronger. Looking down the road I'd anticipate the upper pack weaknesses to be our immediate problem, but wouldn't rule out reawakening the PWL in some periphery zones or areas with shallow snowpacks.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
