Observation Date
11/4/2022
Observer Name
Hardesty and Wilson
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Twin Lakes Pass
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass
Comments
Mostly Low danger in the backcountry, but that is about to change.
- Our main concern will be with the forecast strong west to northwest winds and the heavy dense snow arriving on top of the recent low density snow from Wednesday and Thursday. Sensitive wind slabs and new snow avalanches are expected.
- Outlier concern: Clear skies prior to the Nov 2 storm fostered the development of small faceted grains in the surface snow on northerly aspects. These grains are associated with a thin sun crust on northeast and northwest aspects. This layering (see photo and video) is roughly 25-35cm down. Today's investigation into the snow suggested that these facets will probably not be a factor in most terrain and perhaps isolated to the highest elevation northerly aspects. That said, it may be that enough of a crowbar (ie- lots of wind and lots of heavy dense snow) may step to this layering in steep avalanche prone terrain.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates