Observation Date
12/10/2022
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Scotts Peak
Location Name or Route
Scott's Pass Area
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Temperatures were mild with the Southerly Winds increasing throughout the day. Wind Blown observed in the Moderate category from the early morning hours and on
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Still excellent riding on almost all aspects. Southerly aspects with slope angles greater than 25 degrees have thin m/f crust. Wind effected snow in the upper elevation exposed terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Observations from multiple sites, snow pits and hasty pits continue to indicate significant reactive weak snow at the interface from the dry spell in mid November.
Returned to the same site to investigate the SH weakness as previously observed on 20221205. Still getting sudden results (CTM SC and ECTP21 in buried SH at 53 cm down). Of Note: SH showing signs of rounding but still reactive. Other sites yielded similar results.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Persistent Slab issues appear to be distributed in a a more Specific Pattern and less Reactive, but the Poor Snowpack Structure can still be found and validated with snowpit tests. Trend for Problem Likely will increase with the additional weight of the incoming weather event if the forecast verifies.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Recent new Wind Slab Avalanches confirm this issue of concern. The Strong and Intense Winds have been observed even at typically protected mid elevations. As with the Persistent Slab Problem, the trend for this problem Very Likely will increase with the incoming storm event.
Comments
The Danger may escalate rapidly today when and if the weather event verifies and we begin to receive rapid additional weight to our pre-existing weak snowpack. There is a possibility that the Danger will rise to High by late afternoon.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
