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Observation: Little Water

Observation Date
3/11/2022
Observer Name
Manship/Arnis
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Little Water
Location Name or Route
Little Water
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
The day was cold, low temps started the morning and gradually warmed. Wind was light/calm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
W-N-E facing slopes held excellent cold snow. South facing above 9000' feet also seemed to have stayed cold enough to be good. South facing lower down had a breakable crust or was turning to mashed taters.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Noted multiple collapses on W-N facing slopes. There was wind affect from north winds. Noted the recent avalanche in Fire Water.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Comments
After skiing a run off of Little Water Peak we set a skin track back to the ridge in deep powder. Within a couple minutes we noted a massive gut clenching collapse on a west facing slope just bellow 9000'. Within the next 15 minutes we noted 2 more thundering collapses.
The plot thickens, we took a second run and skinned up the same up track we had just put in and had 9 more collapses on the same skinner within about 150' vert. These where some of the biggest collapses I have felt in the Wasatch, visible watching the snow drop and crack around us. Made us very thankful to not be in avalanche terrain.
While people are getting out and skiing all aspects and slope angles there are still very touchy areas out there.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable