Observation: Mt Aire

Observation Date

12/9/2022

Observer Name

Hardesty and Wilson

Region

Salt Lake » Parleys Canyon » Mt Aire

Location Name or Route

Mt Aire

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Light snowfall beginning by noon; perhaps 2cm new by 3pm. No drifting noted by SW winds.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Red Flags

Cracking

Collapsing

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Cracking around the skis began in earnest at 7000'...and localized collapsing began soon thereafter. POOR snowpack structure with very weak facets and occasional SH from the trailhead to the ridgeline. Generally lacking a well-connected slab in most areas.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Problem #1 Comments

PWL present from Lambs trailhead to the Mt Aire Ridgeline. Generally lacking a well connected slab. While c/c was noted very early on, they were very localized. We saw no natural or human triggered avalanches on our tour.

Grom score for the profile was a 1 and a 3.

I currently picture avalanches to be localized to areas with recent deposits of wind drifted snow in exposed terrain. The danger will spike very rapidly with the next storm of any wind and water weight.

Snow Profile

Aspect

North

Elevation

8,400'