Observation Date
10/31/2022
Observer Name
Ryan Shea
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
10420
Comments
Toured up from Bonanza flats to 10420 area mostly to see what the snowpack looked like before the next storm.
Generally its good for now. Snow depth was 8-10" in Bonanza flats and went up with elevation to between 14-18" at the 10420 ridgeline.
Snowpack was right side up with no layers in the pack. However, snow was faceting on the top 2-3" on the NE and N aspects i traveled through. This will be a problem with next storm and will require some testing and caution on those aspects in slide zones.
The melt freeze crusts on the other aspects (E/S/W) should also be considered as well as how the new snow bonds if at all. A warm storm start should help bonding.
Riding in this area was shark infested, even where snow would seem to give ample coverage and even the grassy areas scraped to the ground. A couple more storms will get this more prime time for riding after green lighting snowpack evaluation
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates