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Observation: Three Temptations

Observation Date
3/23/2022
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Provo » American Fork » Tibble Fork » Three Temptations
Location Name or Route
Three Temptations
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cool north wind. Glorious.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Supportable corn on solars with mank on low/mid northerlies. Warm wind buff up high.
Melting out soon. A bit of hopscotch up to Silver Lake Flat. The road had standing or running water over ice in the afternoon.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Looked at the structure at 7750' ENE and 8750' ENE.
Lower elevation showed stable snow with alternating crusts and 'mixed forms'. Facets do linger in between crusts as well. Snow is isothermal. Photo below.
At 8750' ENE, HS was 130 with a snowpack that looked similar to the one found in the Wilson Glades last week. Slab is 40cm thick with alternating thin crusts and rounds. A thin 5mm mf crust caps the drought layer PWL.
ECTP 29 and 35. 2.5mm facets were dry and loose. Although slightly rounding and bonding, it doesn't matter. Did I mention loose? Hazard still exists for human triggered avalanches on this layering.
I worry about this type of layering being suspect for wet slab potential with the weekend warm-up: slab over crust over dry facets. We'll see.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Saw zero new wet point release sluffs of any sort scanning east Box Elder to the 3 Temptations to everywhere between south Lone Peak to the AF Twins. Cool north breeze and gradual warm up allowing for stability.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates