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Observation: Triangle Couloir

Observation Date
1/27/2023
Observer Name
Babbit, Kelly
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Triangle Couloir
Location Name or Route
Triangle
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Temperature was 27 F.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
An inch of high density snow in the bottom section of the route.
Photo- New snow on the rocks.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
There were signs of wind-drifted snow and loose-dry snow sloughing off steeper sections of the cliffs. There was enough loose-dry and wind-drifted snow that accumulated in the lower pitch that our ascending tracks were filled back in when we descended back to the lower snowfield.
Avalanche Problem #1
Trend
Same
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
7,300'
Slope Angle
40°
Comments
The lower section had signs of avalanche debris from previous slides through. The upper section had remnants of avalanche crowns from previous slides during the storm. The consensus was that the melt freeze crust at 45-55cm from the ground was related to rain events earlier in the season. This crust was buried deeper at 8300'. The stability was good and the structure was fair. A lot of snow that moves through that zone goes straight down the mountain.
Photo- Remnants of avalanche crowns visible on lookers left side of photo level with hiker.
Photo of snowpit profile
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates