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Observation: Foothills

Observation Date
2/25/2023
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Foothills
Location Name or Route
Avenues Foothills
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Weather Comments
Overcast and warm; some greenhousing
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
2-4' of settled snow in the foothills. Able to keep skis on from car to car.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Many red flags. I did experience 40' wide shooting cracks as I collapsed a wind pillow on a 20 degree slope onto basal facets.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Lots of soft and hard slabs of wind blown snow, primarily on west to north to east facing aspects above 5500'. I went to investigate yesterday's reported skier triggered avalanche off the west side of the Avenues Foothills Twins. (Report from party HERE>). My video below. This was a hard wind slab failing on weak faceted grains.
While warming and time will help with slow stability, conditions remain dangerous in some areas in the foothills. You need weak faceted snow below a heavily wind loaded slope steep enough to slide.
I was able to collapse a similar low angle slope. My snow tests still pointed toward unstable conditions (ECTP12) on this structure.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates