UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Hypodermic Needle

Observation Date
3/22/2022
Observer Name
LC
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Hogum » Hypodermic Needle
Location Name or Route
The Needle; Hogum Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
PWL evident with variable depths.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
The surface of the snow was pretty wind swept with variable pockets of snow. One instance of collapsing noted when traveling uphill into the apron.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,500'
Comments
Ended up bailing in the needle yesterday after digging a pit about 150 feet up the apron. 6 foot deep pit reveled the PWL with pretty hard slab on top. When performing the extended column test, the column propagated before we could even isolate it...SOoo ECT 0. Upon further inspection of the area surrounding the pit we found the PWL had varying depths. In places the facets were much closer to the surface between 3-4 feet down. We concluded that due to the varying depth of the week layer underneath a pretty heathy slab it was unsafe to continue. We ended up skiing something more low angle but in the same drainage. .
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates