Observation Date
1/28/2023
Observer Name
Thompson, Kelly
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine
Location Name or Route
Red Pine
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light west winds with overcast skies for the majority of the day. Snowfall decreased throughout the day with skies clearing to partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Zomed in photo of graupel and rimed stellars.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
With recent snowfall and high winds we were on the lookout for wind-drifted and loose snow avalanches.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
We observed natural and human triggered loose dry sluffing on steep easterly aspects below 9000'. We did not encounter any wind-drifted snow problems at elevations below 9000'. Even the wind-drifted snow from 1/27/2023 which would have been buried under the new snow was not present in this location.
Below 8000' there was a distinctive rain crust on all aspects where loose dry avalanches were running and then when we skied through the debris piles on slopes steeper than 35 degrees we were getting secondary slides on this crust. It's worth noting that there are most likely small grained facets above this crust at lower elevations in this location or where a rain crust is present.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
37°
Comments
Height of snow was 320cm in this location. From the surface down 160cm was right side up with temperatures showing a rounding snowpack. The only weakness we could find was at the interface of the new/old snow and this will be settled out by tomorrow. We did not see any wind-drifted snow problems in the areas we travelled.
Photo of surface snow (rimed stellars, stellars, and graupel)
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
