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Observation: Red Pine Gulch

Observation Date
2/19/2023
Observer Name
W Ambler, K Ambler, Dugan
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Red Pine
Location Name or Route
Red Pine
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Beautiful weather for walking and riding today. Strong winds observed on the high ridges and peaks. Light winds below ~9500'.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
I guess this is really just a brief followup to Gagne's ob from mill creek. Very similar findings. Weak near surface facets were found on W-N-E, sometimes capped with a crust on solars. The 4-6 inches of low density snow from last night sluffed easily on top of crusts and with less energy on the shady slopes. If this storm delivers it could bring an exciting avalanche cycle.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The only avalanches we observed were some long running sluffs and one small wind slab off the Hogum Divide into Maybird and a few on the steeper slopes on the East side of Red Pine. We did not get up high enough to feel how the wind was shaping the new snow. We did observe noteworthy transport happening above us. Other parties later in the day reported seeing larger avalanches in the new snow.
New Snow avalanches off of the Hogum Hogback.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates