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Observation: Wilson Peak

Observation Date
3/16/2022
Observer Name
Hardesty, Torrey, Graves
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Wilson Peak
Location Name or Route
Wilson Glade
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Spring. At times greenhousing, at times S-1 with graupel. The only thunder was the large collapse in Wilson Glade.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Tuesday's warmth and greenhousing hammered the northerlies up to about 9600'. A 5-10mm thermal crust exists below the new inch or so of graupel. Lower elevations have taken on significant heat and are unsupportable with wet pushalanches easy in steep terrain. Mid to low elevation northerlies offer challenging skiing with railroading common, punching through the thermal crust into damp snow below. Fun!
Best bet was southerlies - consistent supportable crusts until forced into the lower elevations.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Bo's profile and data seen below. My ECT on similar aspect/elevation was ECTP31 on PWL down 45cm. Trending toward a Scary Moderate danger. Bo collapsed a significant part of the slope but only after he had taken his skis off and stepped down through the slab into the facets. No other signs of instability noted.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Roller balls evident from yesterday's greenhousing on northerlies; able to initiate slow moving wet push-alanches at low elevations.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,400'
Comments
The old large crown from the early January cycle was still evident in the upper part of the Glade below the upper trees.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None