Observation: Lake Peak

Observation Date
1/29/2024
Observer Name
Nate L
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine » Lake Peak
Location Name or Route
Lake Shot
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Probed around and dug a couple pits on the ridge a few hundred feet southeast of Lake Shot to get a feel for snow depth and how it correlates with weak layer strength. Most locations had depths of 240cm+; I dug down in one such spot (10500' NW) and found well-rounding facets under a 120cm hard slab. In another location--10300' NW, about a dozen feet NW of the ridge--I found lower snow depths (176cm) over substantially weaker snow; full profile below. The depth hoar layer at the bottom here propagated with lots of energy in a PST and the block slid off the column with speed despite only a 32 degree slope. Today underscored for me both the spatial variability of the current PWL and also how long it can take to heal a weak layer that had nearly a month to develop.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Abundant rollerballs and wet loose activity from yesterday noted on aspects E-S-W at all elevations. I did not observe much fresh activity today, but I generally avoided these aspects.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,300'
Comments
Clear and calm. Crusts of varying thickness on all aspects and elevations except mid to high elevation NW-NE
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates