Observation: Rock Canyon

Observation Date
3/9/2023
Observer Name
Dave Jarvis
Region
Provo » Rock Canyon
Location Name or Route
Rock Canyon
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Substantial cornice, large pillows, and leeward dropout.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Clear day with limited wind. Localized warming as the Sun hits different faces. Saw rollers at most exposed points
of the compass.
Comments
I left Rock Canyon Trailhead at 9:30am, hoping to catch a Bluebird Day. I consistently saw about 4" of low-density new snow over a firmer base. I also could see a high percentage of small graupel from the overnight snow. Most slopes were filled and presented a new surface.
I had to pack parts of the last hundred yards to the East Meadow at Rock Canyon Campground. The sky was mostly clear by 11:30am. Light NW wind at 6900'. Most summits, ridges, and ridgline cornices had at least some spindrift till at least 1:00pm. (SW) Temp was about 38 degrees. There is over 6' of snow on the campground outhouses.
As I packed a staging patch, I noticed the three open slopes East of the campground were dropping some fresh rollers. WSW aspect. A couple of open slopes more southerly had rollered earlier.
The map marker is at the top of an area that I call the Pod. It usually builds large pillows from South-West prevailing winds. They are really, really big right now. They have cornice edges on the leeward or North side.
The largest & highest on the slope has about a 12' sheer face, above an area of debris. I couldn't spot anything down slope. And, there is a dense patch of pines just below. But it may drop into the North-West bowl.
Provo Peak has a sharp leeward lip for the first 100 yards down the West ridge. The next 150 yards has a deep slab that wraps over onto the North slope. There appeared to be a crown fracture below it, with no clear sign of an avalanche having run below it. Further to the East was an area that the new snow had done something. I could make out a line in the new snow on the big slab. The first, maybe point-release fanning out, the second breaking in low density new snow not leaving much of a track..
The West ridge of Provo Peak has areas of substantial build-up and sharp leeward lips. The North-West ridge above and below the pod has substantial cornices. The West ridge of Freedom Peak has some gnarly cornices.
The North-West flank of Provo Peak has Sun on it for much of the afternoon.
I walked around the East road of the campground. It hadn't been packed out lately. A couple of inches fresh over about 8" denser. Passable. "I am Postholio!"
There was a packed track headed up the entrance road. I headed up to see if there was any additional debris stacked
up at the Crowsfoot Couloir. The entrance gate is buried. I turned around after a couple of hundred yards with an extended stretch of warming open slopes above the road. "Meh, another day."
I saw abundant patches of rollers on sunlit slopes dropping out. My test slope yielded abundant proliferation. A regular Clown-Car roller-fest.. The East third of Hale Draw hasn't dropped anything yet dispite extended full Sun. The large slope down nearer the trail was filled in this morning, but went fairly nuts during the day with rollers..
We'll see how high the rain line is on Friday. Higher will be dense over smoke. It will take a few days for that to sort out.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates