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Observation: Toms Hill

Observation Date
12/16/2022
Observer Name
Antenucci, Mavens Mentorship G3
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Toms Hill
Location Name or Route
Tom's Hill
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
We were COLD in the parking lot but by the time we reached the sun we were shedding layers, It warmed up much more than I had expected throughout the day and was actually quite pleasant. It was clear and calm until around 2:30 where we had a low band of clouds move through the lower part of the drainage with some light precipitation and light SW winds. We didn't observe any wind transport.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Throughout the day on solar aspects you could feel the shift from light, low density snow to sun effected denser powder. I would expect a light crust to be on Solar aspects tomorrow AM. On North facing and protected terrain the snow was low density heaven!
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
My group didn't experience any Collapsing today put another group in the area reported collapsing on an East aspect around 8000'. We still are seeing poor structure in snow pits on every aspect.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Weak structure still exists in our snow pack and although the PWL is not active everywhere, it is still something to pay attention to. In areas with lower snow depths I would expect the PWL to be more active than in areas with deeper snow depths.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
There were several loose dry sluffs that we observed across the road, in the Cardiff drainage, as we walked up Lee's fork and we took note of several long running sluffs on Reynolds east face.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
20°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates