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Observation: Bob's Knob

Observation Date
3/7/2023
Observer Name
Staples
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » Timpanogos » Bob's Knob
Location Name or Route
Bob's Knob
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Mostly cloudy with some sun "filterning" through. A few snowflakes in the air after noon.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Powder couldn't be better on east and north. By afternoon, enough sun had caused the snow on south facing to warm and crust over, but it still skied ok.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
The red flags are tough. Generally the snowpack looks good. BUT, there have been some big avalanches. Notably, Elk Point, East Chute - ran maybe as big as it ever has. Also, there was notable avalanche activity on E and SE facing slopes near SLC. Another notable slide happened today in Little Cottonwood Canyon that was artificially triggered that broke in old snow in unskied terain. It was supposedly deep and wide on a WNW upper elevation slope. Bottom line - there has been enough avalanche activity to make me step back.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southeast
Elevation
8,400'
Slope Angle
27°
Comments
  1. There is a lot of new-ish snow. Digging into the snowpack, it's remarkable how much soft snow there is. It's easy for avalanches to find a soft layer to break on.
  2. In the snow profile above and the photo below, there is a really soft and weak faceted layer under a thick ice crust. There has been such little sun this winter and so much snow. Normally I wouldn't expect to find such a faceted layer on a southeast aspect. Not really a concern with such a stout crust on top, but it tells me that this winter is different.
Video
Generally things are moving towards green light conditions. In most of my pits on E, SE, and another on E, the upper layers of the most recent storm snow are bonding. In all, my ECT's broke on about 13 or 14 taps under the newest snow but did not propagate.
Lots of sluffing in the new snow triggered by skiers
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates