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Observation: White Pine

Observation Date
4/4/2024
Observer Name
Gagne/Frey
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » White Pine
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Sustained winds from the south once you entered the alpine. With almost no soft snow available for transport, no wind-loading was occurring.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Comments
A wandering jaunt into upper White Pine - very poor ski conditions with breakable crust on all aspects. Despite the warm trailhead temperatures at 8 am (42° F) and cloud cover, there was still a decent refreeze, although unsupportable.
South winds kept the snow surface cool enough today to minimize wet activity and many slopes have likely shed from the warmup on Monday and Tuesday.
The only thing of interest we found were
1. Possible wet slab avalanche on Lake Peak (photo 1)
2. Wind-drifted avalanche from strong south/southwest winds this past weekend in Lake Chute (photo 2)
3. Decent debris piles from wet snow avalanche below tri-chutes area (photo 3)
Winds should keep the snow surface cool on Friday ahead of a favorable-looking storm over the weekend.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates