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Observation: Guardsman Pass area

Observation Date
11/29/2023
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Guardsman Pass area
Location Name or Route
Guardsman Pass area
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Weak system passing by to the south added a few clouds but did little to diminish the strong inversion.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
General mixed bag of early season conditions: dry on many southerly aspects and generally weak and cohesionless on the shady terrain. Surface hoar up to 2cm+ abounds in the mid/low elevations. In the higher elevations, the surface hoar is patchier and much smaller (2mm). The surface snow has become so weak in recent days that I expect to see some loose facet sluffs in the steeper shady terrain. This does not bode well for any upcoming storms.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No cracking or collapsing noted in my travels. Most recent reported avalanches are from Saturday Nov 25th.
Comments
Out looking at snow structure in upper BCC and along the PC ridgeline ahead of the weekend storms. Travel is easy and riding conditions are decent in soft recrystallized snow.
Northerly aspects are exceedingly weak with various crusts and facets and surface hoar. Snow depths are 1 to 2.5 feet deep.
West and some southwest aspects also harbor some weak structure, particularly along the mid and higher elevations (see profile below).
Easterly aspects also hold weak structure. Some southeast aspects are bone dry right now, some have up to 1' of snow that is also layered and weak (see profile below).
Steep terrain on all of these aspects will be susceptible to avalanching with enough snow and wind this weekend.
Most southerly aspects have little to no snow or or damp/crusts.
Profiles with accompanying photos below.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates