Observation Date
1/18/2024
Observer Name
Kelly, Kelly
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Tuscarora
Location Name or Route
Tuscarora
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Winds were blowing moderate from the west on the ridgetops. Air temperature was 18° F at similar elevations. Some clouds in/out with some points where it felt greenhousey with the clouds moving over the sun. Although this didn't affect the snow surface.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
About 2" of medium density new snow overnight. No sun or major wind affect noted. We traveled from elevations 8600'-10,640' and on all aspects.
Photo of wind-drifted snow on ridgetops
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We noted one collapse on a lower angle meadow at 9800' and signs of avalanche activity that occurred during the storm on southeast facing aspects was a few days old. Cornices were starting to build and there is a lot of snow available for transport.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The chances of triggering an avalanche breaking onto the PWL layer where we traveled are lower today than they were yesterday or the day before. There is still poor structure on most aspects and elevations. While things are settling out and we are seeing less in-your-face avalanche activity- this is a layer I don't trust. The Central Wasatch seems to have a deeper snowpack and may turn the corner more quickly (decrease in avalanche hazard) than periphery terrain such as Mill Creek, the Park City Ridgeline, or mid-Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
There is a lot of surface snow available for transport and we noted flagging on the leeward side of things with continued loading of steep terrain on east-southeast aspects (photo below of wind-loaded terrain on the south ridge of Tuscarora)
We noted avalanche debris in the Seagull- that ran during the storm and most likely had wind affected snow as part of the slab. Unsure of weak layer as debris and crown were mostly covered back over.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southwest
Elevation
10,500'
Slope Angle
32°
Comments
The snowpack structure is still poor with the layer of greatest concern being the dry facets above the melt-freeze crust and underneath the newest snow.
Where we traveled today we talked about the danger being Considerable based on travel advice and stuck with a plan that kept us out of start zones and out from underneath slopes where there were other backcountry travelers that could have acted like triggers.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
