Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
2/18/2024
Observer Name
AK
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
George's
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Comments
Started a tour up to Georges around 07:15 - It was snowing moderately, winds were fairly calm to light. Based on how quickly our gear was wetting out, it seemed like the snow had a higher moisture content. Snow continued falling steadily until ~9:30 and then we appeared to be in a lull. At around 10:00 snow picked up again, and this time it was more graupel than flakes. We were suripsed we weren't seeing more wind effect but that changed once we got up to the ridgeline, where looking into Mineral Fork it appeared to be quite a bit more gusty, but still not seeing a lot of snow transport (yet).
We dropped in and while not traditional blower, snow was deep, surfy and fast. Noticed a bit of sluffing when stopping and regrouping, but in general it wasn't steep enough for dry loose snow to really move anywhere. One thing we did notice is that there did appear to be a density inversion/some consolidation in the new snow, and that our ski tracks were very "cracky" around the edges.
Headed back up for a second lap - when we got to the ridge around 11:45 the winds had really picked up and were steadily cranking from the west. We could see active loading onto the upper part of the slope, and some pretty impressive spindrifts were cropping up along the ridgeline. There's a lot of snow around to transport, and I would guess that wind slabs will be an issue tomorrow along ridge lines if it continues to blow steadily.
Not sure if he will submit a report or not, but we ran into another skier on the ridge line who mentioned to us that while he was skinning up, there was a different group along the ridgeline trying to cut/stomp some wind lips/small cornices, and they were in terrain above where the skin track traveled through. I assume they were trying to get some information about snow behavior on the slope, but a good reminder to everyone to pay attention to what is below you. Don't use slopes aboves skin tracks, and areas where people may be (and I always assume people are around in the Wasatch), as test slopes.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates