Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!

Observation: Tri Chutes

Observation Date
2/2/2024
Observer Name
L. Dunn
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine » Tri Chutes
Location Name or Route
LCC>White Pine>Tri Chutes Apron
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Light snow all day, but without much accumulation. Visibility was quite good in upper White Pine, but foggy and obscured down near the highway. There was very little wind all day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
At the White Pine parking lot there was about 1" of new wet snow at the beginning and end of our day. The snow gradually got deeper and drier as we climbed and above 9500' there was easily 6" of dense new powder. The new snow bonded extremely well to the old snow surface and we saw no sluffs or any other signs of movement or instability in the new snow. The new snow appears to have fallen with light winds and there was no wind effect in the new snow. Most of the slopes we skied were west or even southwest aspects and the new snow was bonding well to those old melt/freeze surfaces. The new snow was also able to support a skier and on lower angle slopes you didn't feel the underlying surface and in general didn't feel old tracks much either. On steeper slopes you were finishing your turns on the bottom. So, it was a good start to this storm cycle.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates