UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Electric Lake

Observation Date
2/27/2023
Observer Name
Magerl
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Electric Lake
Location Name or Route
North of Electric Lake
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Weather Comments
Far more sun than we had expected. Direct, unfiltered sun starting at 11:30 A.M. Wind from the south/southwest, not moving much snow along the tree-covered east face we were skiing.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
About six inches of hero powder over a slight crust on east facing at 9,000', but it was a limited time offer! So good at 11 A.M., but the sun broke free from clouds at 11:30 A.M. and it quickly became very warm. The sun is now high enough that all but the steepest north-facing was in bright sunlight. In less than five minutes, the east-facing slope we were skinning up went from fluffy light powder to damp tracks creating cascades of rollerballs. A stark reminder that we are nearing March.
On the south facing aspens run we used for entry/exit, about four to five inches of fluff over a very stout but still breakable crust on 24-28 degree slopes.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Felt one very small collapse on an east face at 8,800' with a 225 cm depth. Seemed very isolated, perhaps only a six foot radius. This was about two hours into the sun warming things up.
Comments
Forecast for such strong winds and another foot of snow overnight should spice things up a bit tomorrow. All the south facing we have covered in the past two days has a strong crust, and snow was not bonding well on that aspect, making for some difficult skinning.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable