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Observation: Mt Aire

Observation Date
4/5/2023
Observer Name
Champion, Manship, Talty, Coyne, Collett
Region
Salt Lake » Parleys Canyon » Mt Aire
Location Name or Route
Mt. Aire
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Broken skies throughout the day. Skies began primarily overcast with occasional snow showers, throughout the tour the sun began to come out with intermittent periods of snow. By the end of the day, the sun was more consistent. Winds remained light to moderate throughout the tour, moving snow along ridgelines. Temperatures were cold, even with the sun.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
About 12"-18" of new snow depending on elevation. Multiple density changes within the new snow. As the sun came out this afternoon the snow surface on solar aspects was becoming damp. No signs of wet activity. The shade and elevated winds kept most other aspects cool.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Wide spread recent avalanches. One large collapse while skinning uphill on a north-facing aspect near 7500'.
Comments
Beautiful tour, excellent to see the sun for the first time in a while. Impressive snow totals from the last storm. There was one supportable isothermal layer from before this storm (likely Saturday), approx 2-3' deep depending on the elevation. This served as the bed surface for most of the recent avalanche activity we noted. Within the new snow, there are multiple density changes from the intermittent breaks in snowfall. One small firmer 3" layer, down approx 12"-18" that the new snow from last night and this morning would easily shear off of. No cracking, or easy sluffing on a few steeper rolls we touched. We were able to get one audible collapse while touring.
The entire area seemed to go through a recent avalanche cycle, with multiple natural and human-triggered avalanches on almost all North, and East facing aspects we could see. Most of these seemed to fail as soft slabs yesterday morning, or during very high PI rates. Sensitivity in the area seemed to be decreasing with the solar, and break-in snowfall, but we did not want to push into any steep terrain, or below any steep terrain.
By the afternoon, the solars had begun taking on a bit of heat and the snow surface was damp in places, and had a bit of a greenhouse crust in others.

A bit of wind texture on the surface.
Avalanches seen throughout the tour.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates