Observation Date
3/20/2023
Observer Name
Staples/Sisk
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Wolverine Bowl
Location Name or Route
Wolverine Bowl
Comments
Two main issues (and I think in terms of the layers on which avalanches will break).
- The new snow had several density changes and some graupel in it. Winds whipping around the new snow this afternoon formed nice soft slabs on top of the new snow.
- The old snow surface is a total mixed bag. Winds this last weekend really made it highly variable, but there are definitely areas with weak snow (some a little faceted) near the old snow surface.
- In some places the old snow surface is very hard wind "worked" snow from this past weekend. I think the snow will bond well to these hard surfaces, but the will allow avalanches breaking within new snow to run far and fast.
- On slopes that got sun, there is a crust. It varies in thickness depending on how much sun. What's interesting is that the snow under the crust is very soft and in some places a bit faceted. Not an issue tomorrow, but maybe later this week as the new snow stacks up.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates