Observation: White Pine

Observation Date
1/23/2024
Observer Name
Nick McEachern
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
Upper White Pine
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
We had a late start from the White Pine trailhead under obscured skies with above freezing temperatures and no wind. By 1pm at 8800’, a very light rain (more of a mist?) was produced from the foggy clouds in White Pine. This continued on and off for about two hours until it transitioned to a very light snow when we were at 9800’. While it was spatially variable and scattered in the drainage, there is now a thin crust on snow surfaces either from yesterday’s rime event or today’s precipitation (picture below). We had a large thundering collapse with a small shooting crack on a NE Aspect at 9500’ letting us know that the PWL is active and poor snowpack structure exists. Q1 riding is still being found on sheltered, low angle polar aspects.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates