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Observation: Red Baldy

Observation Date
12/22/2023
Observer Name
Hardesty and Wilson
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine » Red Baldy
Location Name or Route
Red Baldy
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Calm. Just enough moisture to deposit surface hoar (2-3mm) up to the summit.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Fairly poor structure - only HS of 90cm in the upper reaches of Red Baldy. A mess of facets, crusts, and hard slab.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,900'
Comments
Travel was up White Pine to Red Baldy. Zipper crust on northerlies extends up to 9000'. At and near the surface, upper few cms of facets have become less weak at the mid and upper elevation polars, but found facets just below that remained sharp and loose. The upper NW of Red Baldy was thin (90cm HS) and a mess of facets, hard slab and crusts. Thinner HS likely due to generally less favorable snowfall than up canyon and due to some scouring by west and northwest winds.

Low tide in the Wasatch.
Excellent light this afternoon.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates