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Observation: Empire Pass

Observation Date
12/27/2022
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Empire Pass
Location Name or Route
Park City periphery, near Empire Pass
Weather
Weather Comments
Winds @9k ft ridgelines out of S, SW, approx 50mph, gusts to 60mph. Overcast skies, regularly obscured inside the ping pong ball. Snow was about 1-2"/hr from 0900-1230.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Rain/snow line between 7000-7500ft. A bit of graupel, but most stellars/rimed stellars. Picked up about 4-6" of fresh on top of a wind affected, sun affected, and/or firmer old surface.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Wind and snow were clearly happening, but wasn't out long enough to start to see their effects. Still a whole bunch of facets in the basement.
Comments
HS110 - 130cm 8500-9000ft in this zone. On NNW slope just shy of 9000ft found 70cm of mostly right side up snow: F new snow on top of 4F, a smidge of softer, down to 1F/1F+. Below this sat 40cm of facets, F+/4F; gaining some strength. ECTX, nothing happened with bonus taps, and shovel shearing behind the column had no effect until the whole thing fell over at the ground.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates