Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date

1/6/2023

Observer Name

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon

Location Name or Route

Big Cottonwood

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Precipitation

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Direction

West

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

S5 snowfall rates in the early am with at least S3 until 1300. Temperatures began winter like and once again rose significantly throughout the morning hours with mid BCC hitting the mid 30's. Moderate Westerly winds vacillating from WSW to WNW were gusting in the Intense category in the Upper elevations.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

Elevation dependent storm totals with HST at 8000' reaching 45cm and Upper BCC easily hitting at least 60cm.

Attempted tour to Back Bowls, and pulled the plug after 100 feet of entering BC, at 0930 HST at least 50cm of upside-down/inverted snow, with 20 cm of four finger plus to one finger slab resting on top of fist plus storm snow, very easy hand shears with cracking; Second option: Lodge shot with 28 cm of rightside-up Storm Snow with no slab, Very slight bottom feeding on a Turning Surface that was a 5 cm spongy/friable m/f crust with four finger minus cold dry snow below, skied well without issues.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Heavy Snowfall

Cracking

Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Poor Snowpack structure confined to Storm Snow and Storm Slab issues. Touchy and Widespread.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

See above for Storm Slab issues, and multiple reports of Catch and Carry validate Widespread sensitivity. With the warm to moderate temperatures on Friday, these issues should be less Reactive on Saturday.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

Contributing Factor of Wind Loading on Friday appeared to exacerbate the Storm Slab Problem. Lingering Wind Slabs on Saturday may still be an issue.

Clear skies and rising temperatures on Saturday may likely help activate any isolated and the few remaining lingering Storm Slab weaknesses, but these should be settled out signifcantly compared to Friday Cycle. The big issue will likely be Wet Loose activity. Supportable bed surfaces on the Solar aspects will help in potentially producing long running sun induced natural avalanches.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

High

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Considerable

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