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Observation: Session Mountains

Observation Date
1/20/2023
Observer Name
Staples, Champion, Kelly
Region
Salt Lake » Session Mountains
Location Name or Route
Session Mountains
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold temperatures in the high teens to low 20's F with cold easterly winds on the ridgetops. Clouds were overcast in the morning and cleared out in the afternoon allowing for more visibility.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Primarily powder snow conditions. Some areas harbored stiffer wind drifted snow on the surface where there had been wind loading. Wind scouring at the highest ridge-tops. Just off the ridge on north facing slopes the height of snow was over 300cm at 8900'.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
We noted some wind drifted snow at the highest ridge-lines.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Wind scouring on ridgetops looking back towards the west.
Comments
This avalanche on the northeast facing ridgelines west of Grandview Peak above Mill Creek Canyon was reported on January 12th. This most likely occurred naturally during the storm on or around January 10/11th. This avalanche was approximately 2500' wide and from a distance the remains of the crown appeared to be 4' deep. It ran approximately 1100' vertical feet. The consensus is that the timeframe of this slide is similar to the Gobblers Avalanche.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates